Preview: Panathinaikos vs Real Betis – prediction, team news, lineups

Panathinaikos return to European motion on Thursday night after they host Real Betis within the first leg of their Europa League spherical of 16 tie on the Spyros Louis Stadium.

The Greek facet edged via the playoffs by way of a tense penalty shootout, whereas Betis loved a extra snug route after qualifying mechanically from the league part.

Match preview

Greek giants Panathinaikos can be aiming to make dwelling benefit rely after they host Real Betis, significantly as they search to enhance a combined Europa League report this season.

The Athens-based membership heads into this contest in wonderful home kind following a commanding 4-1 victory over Levadiakos, a outcome that prolonged their robust run in all competitions.

Panathinaikos have now recorded 4 wins and one draw from their final 5 matches throughout all competitions – excluding penalty-shootout victories – a sequence that has boosted confidence throughout the squad forward of a demanding European task.

However, their Europa League marketing campaign has been much less convincing, with the Greens ending twentieth within the league-part standings.

Rafael Benitez‘s facet amassed 12 factors from eight matches, managing three wins, three attracts, and two defeats whereas scoring 11 objectives and conceding 9.

Their path to the spherical of 16 required further work, as they had been compelled right into a playoff tie in opposition to Viktoria Plzen. After a 2-2 draw at dwelling and a 1-1 stalemate within the return leg, Panathinaikos finally progressed by way of a tense 4-3 penalty shootout.

One concern for the hosts can be their dwelling kind within the competitors, having recorded only one victory, three attracts and one defeat.

Indeed, their final 5 European matches have all resulted in stalemates, exposing difficulties in turning promising performances into decisive outcomes.

Despite at the moment sitting fourth within the Greek Super League desk, Panathinaikos could face a big step up in high quality in opposition to extra skilled European opposition.

That mentioned, their current attacking shows at dwelling might encourage, having scored 11 objectives of their final 4 prime-flight matches in Athens.

Real Betis, in the meantime, arrive in Greece after having fun with a much more constant Europa League marketing campaign in the course of the league part.

The Andalusian membership completed fourth within the standings with 17 factors from eight matches, recording 5 wins, two attracts and only one defeat.

Recent home kind has been barely inconsistent, nevertheless, with Betis recording two wins, two attracts and one defeat from their final 5 matches in all competitions.

Their most up-to-date outing resulted in a disappointing 2-0 defeat away to Getafe, a outcome which will function a well timed reminder of the challenges they need to overcome heading into this knockout tie.

In the Europa League particularly, Manuel Pellegrini‘s males have seemed much more assured, profitable 4 of their final 5 matches within the competitors.

Their away report additionally stays respectable, with two wins, one draw and one defeat on their travels, suggesting they’re snug working away from dwelling.

Interestingly, Betis did undergo a 2-0 defeat to PAOK of their solely Europa League go to to Greece this season, a outcome they are going to be eager to keep away from repeating.

This would be the first official assembly between the 2 golf equipment, including additional intrigue to what guarantees to be an enchanting tactical battle between the 2 sides.

Panathinaikos Europa League kind:

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Panathinaikos kind (all competitions):

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Real Betis Europa League kind:

Team News

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Panathinaikos must cope with a number of suspensions and harm issues forward of the primary leg.

Anastasios Bakasetas and Ahmed Touba are each suspended after accumulating three yellow playing cards within the competitors.

Javier Hernandez can even miss the match after receiving a pink card throughout further time within the playoff conflict with Viktoria Plzen.

Cyriel Dessers stays sidelined with an extended-time period harm, whereas Pedro Chirivella is unavailable attributable to a calf drawback.

Giannis Kotsiras can be battling a muscle challenge, and Erik Palmer-Brown is dominated out with an ankle harm.

Manolis Siopis continues his restoration from a muscle drawback, whereas defender Sverrir Ingason is anticipated to overlook a number of weeks with a knee harm.

Real Betis even have a couple of choice issues forward of the journey to Athens.

Jose Antonio Morante is suspended, whereas Giovani Lo Celso stays a doubt attributable to a thigh harm.

Isco can be unavailable with a thigh drawback, whereas Sofyan Amrabat is fighting a foot harm and can want a late health take a look at.

However, Pellegrini nonetheless has ample depth to rotate his squad and preserve stability throughout the pitch.

Panathinaikos doable beginning lineup:

Lafont; Katris, Jedvaj, Ingason; Calabria, Kontouris, Gnezda Cerin, Kyriakopoulos; Taborda, Zaroury; Tetteh

Real Betis doable beginning lineup:

Valleys; Firpo, Gomez, Bartra, Ortiz; Deossa, Altimira, Fornals; Ezzalzouli, Hernandez, Avila

We say: Panathinaikos 1-2 Real Betis

Panathinaikos’ robust home kind and attacking confidence at dwelling might make this a aggressive contest, however Betis possess better European expertise and tactical management in midfield.

Pellegrini’s facet ought to subsequently have sufficient high quality to edge the primary leg and take a slim benefit into the return fixture.

For knowledge evaluation of the almost certainly outcomes, scorelines and extra for this match please click here.