📰 Table Of Contents
Recommended bets
[RECOMMENDED_BETS]
Real Betis have lost just two of their last 14 European home matches and have never lost to a German club on home turf. Frankfurt have won two of four trips to Spain, beating Atlético Madrid in 1975 and Deportivo La Coruña 18 years later.
Both teams to score is 8/13.
Draw and both teams to score is 10/3.
Juanmi is 11/2 to break the deadlock and 8/5 to add to his 16 goals this season.
Match preview
Will Real Betis stay on track to reach this season’s UEFA Europa League Final, a showpiece event taking place in their own city no less?
This saw Béticos compete in the first knockout round where they, just about, saw off Russian champions Zenit Saint Petersburg.
All five goals came in the first half of the first leg with Guido Rodríguez, Willian José and Andrés Guardado on target in a 3-2 away victory.
Now, Betis are one step away from matching their best-ever performance in Europe which, to date, is reaching to the Cup Winners’ Cup quarters in 1978 and 1998.
Already this season, Manuel Pellegrini has led the club to a first Copa del Rey Final in 17 years, overcoming Rayo Vallecano last mid-week.
However, on Sunday night, they dropped out of La Liga’s top four places for the first time since November, losing 3-1 at home to Atlético Madrid.
That was their 16th match in just 63 days and, with this two-legged tie coming up, the relentless schedule continues for los Verdiblancos.
Eintracht Frankfurt in contrast are returning to UEFA competition here having gone straight through to the round of 16 by winning their group.
Die Adler won three and draw three in Group D so topped the pile, above Olympiacos, Fenerbahçe and Royal Antwerp.
As recently as 2019, Frankfurt reached their first European semi-final for 39 years, beating Marseille, Lazio, Shakhtar Donetsk, Inter and Benfica en route.
However, they missed out on a place in Baku courtesy of a penalty shootout defea to eventual Europa League winners Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
Inspired by this, the Eagles are looking to go one better although, in the Bundesliga, they’re currently down in tenth place.
Oliver Glasner’s side did hammered Hertha BSC 4-1 on Saturday but, before this, had amassed just four points from the last 24 available.
As a result, they’re seven points below the guaranteed European positions.
Thus, will Real Betis make home advantage count at Estadio Benito Villamarín?
Real Betis team news
As mentioned, Manuel Pellegrini’s side have been playing relentless matches in recent months, meaning he’ll have to continue to rotate his squad.
40 year old Joaquín started a league game for the first time this season against Atlético and, despite his age, continues to be excellent.
However, he’s unlikely to be in the XI for this one too, with Juanmi returning alongside Nabil Fekir and Sergio Canales as the attacking trio.
Borja Iglesias got the winning goal in last Thursday’s Copa del Rey semi-final having netted three times during the Europa League group stages.
Despite this, Willian José has been first-choice centre-forward in recent weeks and that’s likely to continue here too.
Left-back will continue to be a problem area with Álex Moreno and Juan Miranda both injured.
Midfielder Andrés Guardado filled in there on Sunday, but then went off injured about ten minutes in so they’re now very short of options.
Eintracht Frankfurt team news
Frankfurt are without long-term absentees Danny da Costa, Sebastian Rode, Ragnar Ache and Gonçalo Paciência.
Also, Erik Durm and Stefan Ilsanker cannot feature as both were left out the Europa League squad.
In better news, left-wing-back Christopher Lenz will return after missing the weekend’s Bundesliga match suspended.
This could see Filip Kostić return to a more attacking positition, supporting Daichi Kamada and Rafael Santos Borré up front.
Centre-backs Martin Hinteregger and Evan N’Dicka are two stalwarts that remain from Frankfurt’s memorable semi-final run three seasons ago.
La Liga table:
Bundesliga table:
– 101 Great Goals may earn commission from links on this page. Our content is always original. Note that all of our reviewers are compensated for contributing content to 101 Great Goals. Learn more.
