Source: Xinhua
Editor: huaxia
2026-03-18 19:24:30
MADRID, March 18 (Xinhua) -- Real Betis needs to overturn a 1-0 first-leg defeat to Panathinaikos on Thursday to reach the quarterfinals of the Europa League.
Vicente Taborda's 88th-minute penalty gave the Greek side the edge in Athens a week ago, leaving Betis with work to do at the Estadio de la Cartuja.
Both teams finished last week's match with 10 men, with Anass Zaroury sent off for Panathinaikos just before the hour and Betis defender Diego Llorente shown a red card for the foul that led to the decisive penalty.
The match comes at a difficult time for Betis, which has not won since beating Mallorca on February 15. Since then, Manuel Pellegrini's side has drawn at home to Rayo Vallecano, Sevilla and Celta Vigo in La Liga, while suffering a 2-0 defeat away to Getafe.
Thursday also brings a meeting between two experienced coaches, with Pellegrini again facing Rafa Benitez, whose side is third in the Greek Super League.
Pellegrini will make a change in goal, with Pau Lopez set to start ahead of Alvaro Valles, although Lopez has conceded in all four European matches he has played this season. Brazilian central defender Nathan is a doubt after picking up a knock at the weekend, while Llorente is suspended and Isco and Giovani Lo Celso are injured.
The good news for Pellegrini is that Sofyan Amrabat is fit and could even start in midfield.
Celta Vigo travels to face Olympique Lyon in its Europa League return leg on Thursday, with the Spanish side under pressure after Endrick's 87th-minute goal for Lyon canceled out Javi Rueda's first-half opener in the first leg.
Celta will also be without Spain international Borja Iglesias after his red card a week ago. ■