Sports Mole previews Thursday’s Conference League clash between Real Betis and Copenhagen, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Real Betis and Copenhagen will both be looking to get off the mark when they face off in Thursday’s Conference League fixture.
The hosts lost out to Legia Warsaw on matchday one of the league phase, while the Danish side fell to a narrow defeat to Jagiellonia Bialystok.
Match preview
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Betis are competing in the Conference League main draw after cruising to a 5-0 aggregate victory in their playoff round tie against Kryvbas KR.
Unfortunately for Betis, they were unable to produce the same sort of dominance in their away clash against Polish side Legia Warsaw on matchday one.
Steve Kapuadi‘s 23rd-minute effort proved enough to condemn Los Verdiblancos to a 1-0 defeat, leaving them with work to do in their next five league phase games against Copenhagen, Celje, Mlada Boleslav, Petrocub and HJK.
Manuel Pellegrini‘s side followed their unsuccessful trip to Poland with another narrow loss in the derby against Sevilla before the international break.
However, they returned to action with a positive result in Saturday’s clash against Osasuna, with Chimy Avila scoring the winning goal against his former club to fire Betis to a 2-1 victory at El Sadar.
After enjoying success on their travels, Los Verdiblancos will return to the home comforts of the Benito Villamarin, where they have won four of their last five competitive matches, partly due to the fact they have recorded three clean sheets in that period.
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In contrast to their hosts, Copenhagen had to negotiate three rounds of qualifying to seal their place in the Conference League main draw.
They eased past Magpies and beat Banik Ostrava on penalties, before they recorded a 3-1 aggregate win over Kilmarnock in the playoff round.
Jacob Neestrup‘s side conceded no more than one goal in any of their six qualifying matches, but they were unable to repeat that feat in their 2-1 loss to Jagiellonia Bialystok on matchday one.
Cagliari loanee Pantelis Chatzidiakos saw his first-half opener cancelled out by Afimico Pululu, before Darko Churlinov netted a 97th-minute winner to condemn Copenhagen to their first home defeat of the season
After being left with nothing to show for their efforts, The 15-time Danish champions returned to league action to collect four points from two matches, leaving them top of the Superliga table on goal difference.
Copenhagen will put their domestic campaign back on hold as they go in search of their first-ever win in Spain in UEFA competition after drawing two and losing five of their last seven visits.
Real Betis Conference League form:
Real Betis form (all competitions):
Copenhagen Conference League form:
Copenhagen form (all competitions):
Team News
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Betis are still without long-term absentees Isco and William Carvalho, who are currently sidelined with leg and Achilles injuries respectively.
Giovanni Lo Celso is nursing a hamstring injury he sustained while on international duty, while Marc Roca is likely to miss out due to a knee issue.
Right-back Youssouf Sabaly has returned to training and could feature in the matchday squad following a six-game absence.
As for Copenhagen, they are unable to call upon Nicolai Boilsen, Rasmus Falk and Roony Bardghji due to knee injuries.
The defensive duo of Munashe Garananga and Birger Meling are recovering from ankle problems and are unlikely to be involved in Thursday’s fixture.
Winger Mohamed Elyounoussi will continue to provide one of Copenhagen’s main attacking threats after scoring seven goals and providing six assists in 20 competitive appearances this season.
Real Betis possible starting lineup:
Adrian; Ruibal, Natan, Bartra, Rodriguez; Cardoso, Altimira; Avila, Fornals, Ezzalzouli; Roque
Copenhagen possible starting lineup:
Trott; Gocholeishvili, Hatzidiakos, Pereira, Diks; Lerager, Delaney; Achouri, Claesson, Elyounoussi; Cornelius
We say: Real Betis 2-1 Copenhagen
Betis have won four of their last five competitive matches at the Benito Villamarin, and we think they will make use of their home support again to get their Conference League campaign up and running with a narrow victory over Copenhagen
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.