- Real Betis are 1.4 favourites to beat Panathinaikos at home with away goals eliminated.
- Panathinaikos are 8.0 underdogs with a 1 - 0 aggregate lead after a dramatic first leg in which Vicente Taborda’s late penalty and two red cards set the stage for a hard-fought second leg.
- This is the first ever competitive meeting between the two clubs.
Baseline Betis will push Panathinaikos hard
Real Betis have been in mixed form over their last five in all competitions, but their home form has held up well. Manuel Pellegrini has implemented his trademark control-based possession style with attacking full-backs and technical midfielders at the expense of a more direct and physical approach.
Betis have the quality to go toe-to-toe with the best in Europe, but lapses in concentration and away form have cost them in recent weeks as they sit 5th in LaLiga after 27 games with 43 points. They’re in a decent position domestically with their eyes on a top-six finish, but the Europa League quarter-finals are on the line here and it will be a test of their character.
Rafa has made Panathinaikos hard to break down
Rafa Benítez has turned Panathinaikos into a very hard to beat side over the last couple of months. The Greek side have conceded few goals in recent matches, and their speed on the counter attack has been lethal in the European knockout ties.
Panathinaikos arrive in Seville in good spirits after racking up a run of emphatic Greek Super League wins. They are among the top four in the Super League and will be desperate to keep European qualification hopes alive.
Panathinaikos can keep it tight
Karol Świderski has been in good form, but Vicente Taborda is the man in form for the Greens with a late penalty in the first leg and a record of big-game temperament in knockout ties. Anass Zaroury adds aggression, and they have pace and quality wide in the form of Zaroury and Tetê, while Świderski leads the line.
Real Betis will try to control the ball and create overloads wide of Panathinaikos, with full-backs and midfielders making runs into the box. Antony has been their main threat this season with his direct play and 1v1 skill, but Panathinaikos will look to stifle him by keeping their block compact and keeping it tight at the back.
With away goals abolished, this tie will go to extra time and potentially penalties if the aggregate score is level after 90 minutes, so it’s a big game for both coaches and the pressure will be on. With Betis’ recent lapses in defence and away inconsistency, Panathinaikos can’t be underestimated.
Betis will need to overturn a 1 - 0 aggregate deficit, with a 2-0 or 2-1 win doing so in normal time, and Panathinaikos will need to defend deep, frustrate the hosts and pick their moments to break on the counter. The absence of Diego Llorente, who saw red in the 1st leg, is a big miss for Betis and makes their defensive reshuffle more difficult. The return of Sofyan Amrabat from injury, however, brings them steel and ball retention in the midfield, which should make the difference.
Under 2.5 goals at 2.0 is a good bet here, and Both Teams to Score - No at 1.73 is another good bet considering neither team will be inclined to gift the other a goal on a night like this.
