Real Betis vs Feyenoord: can the hosts make it three Champions League wins in a row?

Real Betis host Feyenoord at Estadio de La Cartuja on Wednesday, October 21, with both sides looking to strengthen their Champions League campaigns.

Manuel Pellegrini’s Real Betis have made an impressive start to their European campaign, securing back-to-back 3-2 victories over Lille and Porto.

However, the Spanish side will be looking to bounce back after suffering a 5-2 defeat against Barcelona in La Liga last weekend.

Despite that setback, Betis have enjoyed a promising domestic campaign, recording notable victories against Real Madrid and Real Sociedad. Pellegrini will be hoping his side can rediscover their best form and continue their strong European run.

Irish striker Troy Parrott could be crucial to the hosts’ attacking threat, with his performances providing another option in the final third. Meanwhile, Antony and Abde Ezzalzouli will look to exploit Feyenoord’s defensive vulnerabilities.

Feyenoord, managed by Giovanni van Bronckhorst, arrive in Seville in strong domestic form but will be eager to improve their European record after a heavy 5-1 defeat against Barcelona in their opening Champions League fixture. They responded with a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Como, keeping their hopes of reaching the knockout stages alive.

Van Bronckhorst, who guided Rangers to the 2022 Europa League final, will be keen to maintain his side’s attacking momentum. The Dutch side will look to Algerian winger El Hadji Malick Moussa to help spearhead their attack and trouble the hosts.

The sides’ previous meeting came in last season’s Europa League, when Betis claimed a 2-1 home victory through goals from Antony and Abde Ezzalzouli. The result will give the Spanish side confidence heading into Wednesday’s encounter, although Feyenoord will be determined to produce a different outcome this time around.

Betis are expected to be without Junior Firpo, while striker Cucho Hernández is a doubt after sustaining a calf injury against Barcelona. Aitor Ruibal faces a fitness test, with his availability potentially influencing Pellegrini’s defensive selection.

Feyenoord have several injury concerns, including Shaqueel van Persie, Reiss Nelson, Jakub Moder, Jordan Bos, Gonçalo Borges and Gijs Smal. Their final availability will need to be confirmed ahead of kick-off.

Real Betis predicted XI: Valles; Ortiz, Bartra, Natan, Gómez; Bernal, Isco, Fornals; Antony, Parrott, Ezzalzouli.

Feyenoord predicted XI: Ernst; Read, St. Juste, Watanabe, Mármol; Zechiel, Vanhoutte, Targhalline; Moussa, Fernández, Ueda.

Betis’ home advantage and attacking quality make them slight favourites, although Feyenoord’s scoring ability could make this another entertaining European encounter.