F91 Dudelange vs Real Betis Predictions

Real Betis have already secured their place in the knockout stage of the Europa League, and Milan are likely to join them if they can avoid defeat against Olympiakos. F91 Dudelange of Luxembourg were always expected to be the Group F whipping boys and with five defeats from their five games so far, that prediction has come true.

F91 Dudelange faced title rivals Fola Esch in their domestic cup competition on Sunday, and ran out narrow 2-1 winners at home. Dudelange sit third in the Luxembourg National Division, a point behind second placed Fola Esch and three behind the leaders Jeunesse d’Esch, and after Thursday’s game, they will be able to concentrate on domestic matters and perhaps claim some silverware.

Betis were at home on Sunday in La Liga where they played host to relegation battlers Rayo Vallecano and claimed a rather fortunate 2-0 win. The scoreline suggests Betis ran out comfortable winners at the weekend, but that couldn’t have been further from the truth as their guests had nine corners to the home sides two and thirteen shots during the ninety minutes, compared to the seven Betis managed. However, the home side were clinical in front of goal in the second half, taking the lead through a fifty-ninth minute penalty from Lo Celso and wrapping up the three points via a seventy-sixth minute goal from Brazilian defender Sidnei.

Real Betis certainly were in control when they last met F91 Dudelange on their way to three points in the Europa League in October. The pair went in goalless at the break despite the best efforts of the hosts, but they weren’t to be denied in the second half. Sanabria opened the scoring in the fifty-sixth minute and Lo Celso added a second with ten minutes to go, before former Barcelona winger Cristian Tello made it 3-0 in the eighty-eighth minute. Dudelange had their chances against Betis, but with 68% of the possession and twelve shots off target the hosts could have won by a lot more than three goals.

Turpel and Sinani have scored a combined nine times in qualifying and the group stage of the Europa League for Dudelange this season and present the hosts most likely source of goals heading into Thursday’s match. Argentina’s Lo Celso has scored three times in Europe for Betis this season, while teammate Sanabria is one goal behind on two. The visitors are yet to be beaten in the group stage, while the hosts are yet to win and we can’t see that changing on Thursday.

We’re confident that Betis will win to nil on Thursday and have backed the scoreline to finish 3-0 once again. Betis are the better side, playing in a better domestic league, and have form in their favour with five wins from their last six matches in all competitions. The visitors have kept four clean sheets in their last four matches and we’re expecting more of the same on Thursday.