Nottingham Forest mark their long-awaited return to European football after a 30-year absence when they travel to Spain to face Real Betis in the UEFA Europa League (UEL), the English side will be eager to make their mark on the continental stage once again, while their Spanish hosts are looking to replicate last season’s deep run in Europe, SoftFootball reports.
Real Betis head into this clash after an impressive 3-1 victory over Real Sociedad at the weekend, ending a three-game winless run in La Liga. That result offered a confidence booster for Manuel Pellegrini’s men, who are preparing for a fifth successive European campaign.
SoftFootball understands that Betis are determined to go one better than last season, when they reached the UEFA Conference League final, and their record suggests they can start strong having won 11 of their last 18 major European home games in the group/league phase.
For Forest, this is more than just another game ,it’s a historic occasion. Some fans will be watching their club in European competition for the first time ever, while older supporters will remember the glory days of Brian Clough, when Forest won back-to-back European Cups in 1979 and 1980.
Ange Postecoglou is now the man in charge of leading the team, but his early spell at the City Ground hasn’t been the smoothest . Still, SoftFootball earlier reported that Postecoglou knows what it takes in this competition, having lifted the trophy with Tottenham last season. Forest’s 1-1 draw against Burnley at the weekend, however, stretched their winless run to five games, leaving them short of momentum going into this big European night.
This will be the first-ever competitive meeting between Betis and Forest. History favours the Spaniards slightly, but Betis have traditionally struggled against English opposition, losing seven of their last nine European clashes with Premier League sides including last season’s painful Conference League final defeat.
Team News
For Betis, Cucho Hernández is in red-hot form, having scored in back-to-back games. His goals usually bring good fortune, with the team unbeaten whenever he finds the net. Isco remains the club’s most notable long-term absentee.
In anticipation of the new UEFA Europa league season, after last year’s deep run at the Conference League, Real Betis and supporters will have every reason to be postive they can replicate that european form of last season, the team via its official X handle, posted exclusive photos of last season’s incredible wins at in their run to the final of the UEFA conference league, see post below;
Forest will look to Chris Wood for inspiration. The New Zealand striker has prior UEL experience from his time with Burnley and Birmingham, and four of his last five goals at club level, including his last two in this competition, have all come before half-time. Murillo missed the Burnley draw but could yet be fit enough to feature here.
Possible lineups
Real Betis possible starting lineup:
Valles; Bellerin, Bartra, Natan, Firpo; Fornals, Altimira; Antony, Lo Celso, Ezzalzouli; Cucho
Nottingham Forest possible starting lineup:
Sels; Williams, Milenkovic, Murillo, Morato; Luiz, Anderson; Ndoye, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Wood
Meanwhile, its been 30 years in the making, Nottingham Forest players and fans all over the world are eagerly waiting and excited for the team’s first game back in Europe elite competitions, Nottingham Forest have given the fans a glimpse of their players arriving to the team’s training ground, the exclusive footage was posted on the team’s official X handle, see video below;
SoftFootball’s Prediction
With Betis strong at home and Forest struggling for form, Pellegrini’s side will fancy their chances of a positive start. Expect Forest to put up a fight on their emotional return, the Forest quality and attacking firepower should edge it.
Prediction: Real Betis 1-3 Nottingham Forest
