Celtic vs Real Betis Predictions

• Celtic will finish third and Real Betis second no matter what happens at Parkhead.
• Both teams have scored in five of Celtic’s nine Europa League games this season.
• Both teams have scored in three of Real Betis’ five Europa League games this term.
• The first meeting between these clubs in Seville finished 4-3 to Betis.

Dead rubber could be alive if Hoops had held on

Celtic and Real Betis know their fate in Europe, but there could be some scores to settle when the two sides play out this dead rubber in Glasgow on Thursday.

September’s see-saw skirmish in Seville finished 4-3 to the hosts and that has probably decided which of the two goes through because if Ange Postecoglu’s side had even just held on for a draw from 2-0 up they could have progressed with a win here.

Los Verdiblancos are in great form right now after posting five straight wins in response to their derby defeat in early November. Manuel Pellegrini’s side sit third in La Liga after their 1-0 win over Barcelona at the Nou Camp last weekend and the coach is set to get a contract extension because both the club and the fans are so happy with his work.

Celtic fans also adore what Postecoglu is doing right now and the Hoops are definitely building something identifiable that could take them deep in the Conference League. The 4-0 home defeat to Bayer Leverkusen apart, Celtic have been competitive in all their games in this competition and we expect them to put up a good showing against the Spaniards too.

Both teams to score in Glasgow

Both sides may rotate, although Postecoglu is likely to stick with Mikey Johnston in the injury-enforced absence of creative star Jota. Cameron Carter-Vickers is suspended, as is Nabil Fekir for the visitors, but Real Betis’ have a squad brimful of attacking talent.

Having never won in the British Isles before, the visitors will need to be fully focused from the start for this. Both teams to score looks the safest prediction, given Betis have played in a style that has seen them score ten and concede nine goals in their five group games to date. The bet would have landed in the majority of Celtic’s Europa League games this term too.

Real Betis weren’t great when Celtic pressed in Seville and were turned over 4-0 by Bayer Leverkusen’s all-action style later in the group, so we expect them to concede a couple here in what could be a 2-1 home win.