Preview: Real Betis vs. HJK Helsinki – prediction, team news, lineups

La Liga side Real Betis will welcome Finnish outfit HJK Helsinki to Benito Villamarin for Thursday Conference League clash.

Los Verdiblancos will enter the final matchday in 17th place in the league phasewhile the visitors sit outside the top 24 in 29th position.

Match preview

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Betis have experienced mixed fortunes in the Conference League league stage, having won two, drawn one and lost two of their matches.

Los Verdiblancos got off to an unconvincing start, losing 1-0 away to Legia Warsaw before being held to a 1-1 draw by FC Copenhagen on matchday two.

While they got a win on the board in their home game against Celje, Betis were quickly stopped in their tracks by Mlada Boleslav, who gave away a narrow lead to lose 2-1 in the Czech Republic.

Having taken four points from as many games, the Andalusian side went on to claim a decisive victory in last week’s trip to Moldova, with Cedric Bakambu scored the decisive goal in a 1-0 win over Petrocub, moving Betis up to 17th and three points clear of 25th.

Betis are now on the brink of securing a place in the knockout rounds, although they are out of contention for a top-eight finish and subsequent qualification for the last 16.

Although they need just one point to guarantee a top-24 finish, Betis will fancy their chances of claiming all three points after winning three of their last four competitive matches, including a 2-1 win with 10 men in Sunday’s away league match against Villarreal.

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After suffering from the group stage last season, HJK have a big job to do if they are to avoid another early exit in the Conference League.

The Finnish side sit one point off the qualification places after winning one, drawing one and losing three of their five league games.

Toni Korkeakunnass side bounced back from a 3-0 defeat against Lugano to claim a narrow 1-0 win over Dinamo Minsk on matchday two.

But they were unable to build on that successful performance, going on to lose European matches against Olimpija and Panathinaikos without troubling the goalscorers.

At least they managed to avoid a third defeat in a row in the Conference League in last week’s home match against Molde, with Lee Erwin halving a two-goal deficit before the substitution Kai Meriluoto scored a stoppage time equalizer.

HJK know they need to claim another win to have a realistic chance of climbing into the top 24, but that may be easier said than done given the fact they have failed to win any of the ​​their last four competitive away games.

Real Betis Conference League form:

Real Betis form (all competitions):

HJK Helsinki Conference League form:

HJK Helsinki form (all competitions):

Keep news

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Betis boss Manuel Pellegrini expected to be without benefits from Rui Silva, Hector Bellerin, William Carvalho and Nobel Mendy due to damage.

Pablo Fornals could feature in the match squad after returning to training after a seven game injury absence.

Chimy Avila was shown a straight red card in the recent La Liga win over Villarreal and with the striker suspended for Sunday’s league meeting with Rayo Vallecano, he is likely to keep his place in the starting line-up for Thursday’s home game.

As for the visitors, Hassane Bande and Brooklyn Lyons-Foster is pushing for the starting places after appearing as a half-time starter against Molde.

Bande could get the chance to start on the flank, while Lyons-Foster could line up in a back-four with Giorgos Antzoulas, Daniel O’Shaughnessy and Noah Pallas.

Erwin will lead the line for the visitors, with the Scottish striker looking to add to the 11 goals he has scored since joining HJK this summer.

Real Betis possible starting line-up:
Adrian; Ruibal, Llorente, Natan, Rodriguez; Cardoso, Flores; Diao, Avila, Rodriguez; Bakambu

HJK Helsinki possible starting lineup:
Nijhuis; Lyons-Foster, Antzoulas, O’Shaughnessy, Pallas; Bande, Kokcu, Lingman, Kanellopoulos, Hostikka; Erwin

We say: Real Betis 2-0 HJK Helsinki

Betis will be in confident mood having won three of their last four games and we believe they have the quality in their squad to get the better of an HJK side who have lost their previous two away games in the league stage.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

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