Real Betis vs Panathinaikos: Europa League Last-16 Clash Preview Real Betis will host Panathinaikos in Thursday’s Europa League last-16 tie at La Cartuja, seeking to extend their European campaign after finishing fourth in the league phase with five wins, two draws, and one loss. The Spanish side entered the second leg with a narrow 1-0 advantage from the first leg in Athens, but their hopes of advancing are far from guaranteed. Betis’ recent form has been inconsistent, with a 1-1 draw against Celta Vigo in La Liga on Sunday keeping them three points ahead of the Galicians in the race for fifth place. However, their five-match winless streak since back-to-back victories over Atletico Madrid and Mallorca has raised concerns about their ability to score goals in crucial matches. Panathinaikos, meanwhile, overcame a challenging path to reach the last-16, defeating Viktoria Plzen in a penalty shootout after drawing both legs of their knockout playoff. The Greek giants’ recent performance in the Super League was less impressive, as they drew 0-0 with Panetolikos, though their nine-match unbeaten run in all competitions offers a glimmer of confidence. However, their history against Spanish teams remains a concern, with 14 losses in their last 19 European encounters against Spanish opposition. The visitors will need to avoid the pitfalls of penalties, as their first leg against Betis ended with two red cards and a late penalty that sealed their narrow victory. Both teams face injury and suspension issues ahead of the match. Real Betis manager Manuel Pellegrini is without Giovani Lo Celso and Isco due to injuries, while Llorente’s red card in the first leg has left him suspended for Thursday’s game.#real_betis #europa_league #panathinaikos #la_cartuja #benito_villamarin
