Manuel Pellegrini confía en que Betis puede superar a Panathinaikos en la Europa League El entrenador del Betis, Manuel Pellegrini, destacó que avanzar a los cuartos de final de la Europa League sería un logro histórico para el club, tras su eliminación en la fase de octavos de final. El técnico explicó que su equipo debe enfrentar el partido de este jueves en La Cartuja con "tranquilidad, intensidad y confianza" para revertir la ventaja de un gol que el Panathinaikos obtuvo en la ida. Pellegrini señaló que el rival griego es un "equipo difícil y que defiende bien", pero confía en la "capacidad" del grupo que forma su plantilla. Aunque reconoció el favoritismo de los andaluces, insistió en que "en Europa no se puede mirar el nombre del rival" y que el desempeño en el campo es lo que define el resultado. El técnico santiaguino admitió que una eliminación "sería un traspié muy importante", pero subrayó que el Betis tiene "dos caminos para llegar a la Champions League". Destacó que la posibilidad de que el quinto clasificado acceda a la máxima competición europea "está latente", por lo que una derrota no debería afectar los objetivos del club. Pellegrini también valoró el apoyo de la afición, que ha estado presente en todos los partidos, y mencionó la "extraña crispación" que se vivió en el partido contra el Celta de Gante el pasado domingo. Aunque reconoció que el equipo "dio otra imagen" en el segundo tiempo y fue aplaudido hasta el final, admitió que "algo estaremos haciendo mal para que la hinchada no nos esté apoyando en algunos momentos". El Betis enfrenta un desafío crucial en la Europa League, donde la eliminación podría afectar sus aspiraciones de clasificación a la Champions League.#champions_league #europa_league #panathinaikos #betis #manuel_pellegrini
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
Manuel Pellegrini: "No perder confianza y evitar fórmulas secretas" Manuel Pellegrini, entrenador del Real Betis, respondió a las críticas por los resultados negativos del equipo tras igualar en el clásico contra el Sevilla y sufrir derrotas frente a Getafe en La Liga y Panathinaikos en la UEFA Europa League. En una rueda de prensa, el técnico destacó la importancia de recibir las críticas con serenidad, tanto por parte del director deportivo como del plantel, y subrayó que los resultados "han sido absolutamente dentro de lo esperado". Al ser preguntado sobre cómo superar el momento complicado, Pellegrini insistió en la necesidad de "no perder la confianza" y mantener la misma actitud que en los partidos ganados. Señaló que este tipo de situaciones son comunes en todas las temporadas y que el reto es "saber sortearlo lo antes posible". El estratega rechazó la idea de inventar "fórmulas secretas" que no existen, enfatizando en la importancia de "mantener la confianza, estar más concentrados y mejorar a través del juego". En cuanto al partido contra el Celta de Vigo, Pellegrini destacó la importancia de una defensa sólida y la necesidad de "mantener la portería a cero". Aunque reconoció que no siempre se logra, consideró que cada gol en contra genera más confianza con el transcurso del partido. Además, el técnico describió el encuentro como "muy importante" y "hasta de siete puntos" debido a la diferencia de gol que podría influir en la lucha por la clasificación. El entrenador del Betis también mencionó que, aunque el partido no es decisivo por la cantidad de puntos restantes, es clave para mantener la posición en la tabla. Su enfoque se centra en recuperar la dinámica positiva del equipo y evitar que las críticas afecten su mentalidad.#getafe #sevilla #real_betis #panathinaikos #manuel_pellegrini
Panathinaikos vs. Real Betis Live Match Updates The first half of the match between Panathinaikos and Real Betis ended 0-0 after 45 minutes of action. The fourth official added one minute of extra time, bringing the total duration of the first half to 46 minutes. Panathinaikos won a corner kick in the defensive half, conceded by Natan. Real Betis’ Abde Ezzalzouli earned a free kick in the defensive half after a foul by Anass Zaroury of Panathinaikos. Andrews Tetteh of Panathinaikos missed a left-footed shot from outside the box, the ball sailing high and wide to the left. The attempt was assisted by Renato Sanches. Aitor Ruibal of Real Betis secured a free kick in the defensive half following a foul by Georgios Kyriakopoulos of Panathinaikos. Sergi Altimira of Real Betis won a free kick in the attacking half after a foul by Adam Gnezda Cerin of Panathinaikos. Cucho Hernández of Real Betis attempted a right-footed shot from the right side of the box but saw it saved by Alban Lafont of Panathinaikos. The save was assisted by Pablo Fornals with a cross. A delay occurred due to an injury involving Giorgos Katris of Panathinaikos. Diego Llorente of Real Betis fouled Andrews Tetteh of Panathinaikos, earning a free kick in the attacking half. Natan of Real Betis received a yellow card for a bad foul. Andrews Tetteh of Panathinaikos won a free kick on the right wing after a foul by Diego Llorente of Real Betis. Georgios Kyriakopoulos of Panathinaikos missed a left-footed shot from the left side of the box, assisted by Vicente Taborda. Diego Llorente of Real Betis fouled Vicente Taborda of Panathinaikos, leading to a free kick in the attacking half. Alban Lafont of Panathinaikos won a free kick in the defensive half after a foul by Diego Llorente of Real Betis.#real_betis #panathinaikos #natan #diego_llorente #alban_lafont
Panathinaikos vs Betis: Betting Tips & Odds for the Match - 12 March 2026 Panathinaikos and Betis are set to clash in the UEFA Europa League Round of 16 on March 12, 2026, at the Apostolos Nikolaidis Stadium in Athens. The match will be officiated by referee Szymon Marciniak. Both teams have shown contrasting performances in recent weeks, with Panathinaikos securing a dramatic penalty shootout victory against Czech side Victoria to advance, while Betis progressed through the group stage with a strong record. Panathinaikos, currently fourth in the Greek Super League, has been in strong form domestically. The team defeated Levadiakos 4-1 in their last league match, extending their winning streak to four games. However, they face challenges in the Europa League, having reached the Round of 16 after a hard-fought play-off against Victoria. Their recent home matches have seen frequent goal exchanges, with nine of their last 15 games ending in over 1.5 goals. Betis, on the other hand, has been a consistent performer in European competitions. The Spanish side finished fourth in the Europa League group stage, losing only one of eight matches. Notable victories include a 3-1 win over Dinamo Zagreb and a 2-0 away win against Ludogorets. Despite a recent 0-2 defeat to Getafe in La Liga, Betis remains a formidable opponent, particularly in away games. They have lost five of their last eight away matches, making them a potential target for underdog bets. The head-to-head record between the two teams is sparse, as they have not met previously. This lack of history adds an element of unpredictability to the match. Analysts suggest a draw is a likely outcome, given Panathinaikos’ recent tendency to settle matches in a 1-1 fashion under coach Rafael Bentis.#panathinaikos #betis #uefa_europa_league #apostolos_nikolaidis_stadium #rafael_bentis
Panathinaikos vs Real Betis: Europa League Round of 16 Preview and Predictions Panathinaikos will host Real Betis in the first leg of their Europa League round of 16 tie at the Spyros Louis Stadium on Thursday. The Greek side advanced through a tense penalty shootout in the playoffs, while Real Betis secured their spot with a more straightforward path from the league phase. Both teams aim to leverage their strengths in this high-stakes encounter. Panathinaikos, based in Athens, enter the match in strong domestic form after a 4-1 victory over Levadiakos, extending their winning streak in all competitions. The club has recorded four wins and one draw in their last five matches, boosting confidence ahead of the European challenge. However, their Europa League campaign has been inconsistent, finishing 20th in the league-phase standings. Under Rafael Benitez, the Greens earned 12 points from eight matches, with three wins, three draws, and two losses. Their route to the round of 16 required a playoff clash against Viktoria Plzen, which they won 4-3 in a penalty shootout after a 2-2 draw at home and a 1-1 draw in the return leg. Despite their domestic success, Panathinaikos’ European record at home is mixed. Their last five European matches have ended in draws, raising concerns about converting strong performances into decisive results. While they sit fourth in the Greek Super League, the challenge of facing more experienced European opposition looms large. Their recent attacking form at home, however, remains encouraging, with 11 goals scored in their last four top-flight matches in Athens. Real Betis, on the other hand, have enjoyed a more consistent Europa League campaign, finishing fourth in the league phase with 17 points from eight matches.#real_betis #europa_league #panathinaikos #spyros_louis_stadium #athens
