Real Betis vs Celje Preview & Prediction | 2024-25 UEFA Conference League | League Phase
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After an impressive run of form in La Liga, Real Betis will now have to up the ante this weekend as Manuel Pellegrini’s Andalusians now welcome Slovenian side Celje to the Benito Villamarin this week.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Thursday 7th November, 2024 - UK – 8:00pm / US ET – 3:00pm / US PT – 12:00pm
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – TNT Sports / US – Not televised
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – Discovery+ / US – Paramount+
REAL BETIS PREVIEW: INTRIGUING BETIS
Former Manchester City, Malaga, Real Madrid and West Ham United coach Manuel Pellegrini is in charge of a Real Betis side that have performed well domestically as they begin this weekend’s round of fixtures sitting tucked inside of the top six and the European spots with just three defeats in their opening 12 matches.
The hosts come into this one on the back of a 1-1 draw against Athletic Club at the weekend at San Mames in the Basque Country. The Andalusians have suffered just two defeats in their last nine matches across all competitions with a defeat in Poland against Legia Warsaw and a defeat in El Gran Derbi against Sevilla.
CELJE PREVIEW: AMONG THE MINNOWS
Celje overperformed pre-season expectations by even qualifying for the league phase of the UEFA Europa Conference League with the Slovenians one of the smallest, if not the smallest, underdog to qualify for Europe’s third-tier club competition and they sit fourth in Slovenia’s top-flight ahead of back-to-back losses in the league ahead of this weekend.
Celje have started the 2024/25 UEFA Europa Conference League league phase with a comfortable 3-1 defeat to Vitoria Guimaraes in Portugal and then an incredible annihilation of Istanbul Basaksehir by five goals to one at Arena Petrol a couple of weeks ago in their most recent European outing.
REAL BETIS TEAM NEWS: MIDFIELD ISSUES
Real Betis has a recognisable squad with a lot of experienced midfield options but Manuel Pellegrini is dealing with quite a few injury absentees in the midfield.
Former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Giovani Lo Celso is sidelined for this one alongside the likes of Marc Roca, William Carvalho and former Real Madrid man Isco.
PREDICTED XI (4-4-2): Silva; Hector Bellerin, Marc Bartra, Diego Llorente, Perraud; Pablo Fornals, Sergio Altimira, Johnny Cardoso, Abde Ez; Vitor Roque, Chimy Avila
UNAVAILABLE: Carvalho (Injured), Marc Roca (Injured), Aitor Ruibal (Injured), Lo Celso (Injured), Isco (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
CELJE TEAM NEWS: FULLY FIT
Celje have a fully fit and available squad for this week’s trip down to the south of Spain so they would be able to name an unchanged eleven from the team that played Istanbul Basaksehir.
Since they hammered the Turkish Super Lig side, Celje will likely want to name an unchanged side with no fresh injury concerns or suspension issues for this one.
PREDICTED XI (5-4-1): Rozman; Matko, Zec, Vulkisevic, Nemanic, Nieto; Seslar, Zabukovnik, Svetlin, Brnic; Kucys
UNAVAILABLE:
QUESTIONABLE:
REAL BETIS VS CELJE PREDICTION
Manuel Pellegrini’s Betis have been strong in La Liga but they have collected just a point from their opening couple of games on the continent and now face a Celje side that have taken the game to both Vitoria Guimaraes and Istanbul Basaksehir thus far. Betis remain the firm favourites for this one but the Slovenians will be expected to make it at least interesting for the neutral in Seville.
REAL BETIS VS CELJE TIP: REAL BETIS TO WIN & BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE
