Real Betis – Braga

The Seville club will be able to prove its advantage to the opponent at home.

For the second season in a row, Betis has been a formidable force in the secondary European club competitions. Having participated in the final of the previous Europa Conference League edition, the Sevilla side now seeks victory in the Europa League. In La Liga, Manuel Pellegrini's side sit fifth and are on track to secure a spot in the Europa Conference League or the Europa League for the next season. However, winning the current edition of the continent's second-tier tournament could give Betis a place in the UEFA Champions League, something they cannot achieve through the current La Liga campaign. In this context, ahead of the return leg with Braga, there can be no talk of conserving energy for the La Liga match against Girona scheduled five days later. Moreover, the start of the clash with the Portuguese side began quite reasonably for the Spaniards. Betis conceded in the fifth minute of the first leg, but equalised after half-time and, at least, gained a psychological edge ahead of the home game. Bookmakers have made the home side the favourites for the upcoming match, offering odds of 1.85 on their victory. Betis' latest win to date is a 4-0 thrashing of Panathinaikos in the previous stage of the Europa League. In the next three league matches, the Seville side drew twice and lost once. Meanwhile, Braga lost their away leg in the Europa League last-16 to Ferencváros 0-2. In the domestic championship the visitors sit in their usual fourth place, which would secure them a spot in the secondary European cups next season. Undoubtedly, the Portuguese will also be aiming for a win, but the home advantage could prove decisive. Betis, besides the aforementioned triumph over Panathinaikos, managed to win three of four home matches in the group stage. Only the very first home match of the European season against Nottingham Forest ended in a 2-2 draw. However, it took place back in September of last year. On Sunday, Betis played Osasuna to a 1-1 draw, having taken the lead in the seventh minute, and their only conceded goal came from a penalty. The hosts will prove their superiority.