Aris vs Betis Prediction & Tips
With two rounds of UEFA Europa League (UEL) action completed, all four teams in Group C have three points apiece, so Aris Limassol and Real Betis have a lot at stake when they meet at the Alphamega Stadium on Thursday. Aris go into it on a three-game winning streak that began with a 2-1 win over Rangers on matchday two, having opened the scoring in the opening ten minutes in each of those three games.
Aris coach Aleksey Shpilevsky had been very unhappy with the defensive level of his players prior to the Rangers game, and his criticism seems to have had the desired effect, although the Cypriot side have kept a clean sheet in just one of their last six home games (G4, E1, P1). Aris can probably shine more brightly in attack, with an impressive average of 3.5 goals scored per game in their European home games this season (G3, P1).
Betis’ UEL campaign began with a defeat at the Ibrox Stadium (Rangers 1-0 BET), but the green-and-whites reacted by beating Sparta Prague 2-1 in a game in which there were two goals before the 10th minute. Anything is possible, but it will be very difficult for Manuel Pellegrini’s side to break the opening deadlock against Aris more quickly than in Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Getafe – the fourth 1-1 draw in Betis’ last six official matches (G2, E4) – in which Marc Roca made it 1-0 after 56 seconds.
Of the four 1-1 draws mentioned above, the three most recent came away, but Betis have not won an official away game since mid-August (E3, P3 since). On their first visit to Cyprus, the Sevilla side will have to continue to deal with the difficulties they are facing at the heart of the back line due to the sale of Luiz Felipe and the serious injury to Marc Bartra. “I focus on the players who are available. Those of us who are will pull it through,” Pellegrini recently stated.
Players to watch: Shavy Babicka, who has two goals for Aris in the UEL this season, can become the first African player to score in each of his first three appearances in the competition. Marc Roca’s goal in Getafe – Betis was ultra-quick, although the green-and-white pivot’s previous two goals came between the 50th and 80th minute.
Key stat: Spanish clubs have won seven of their last eight meetings with Cypriot opponents (G7, P1).
Aris – Betis FREE TIPS
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