Real Betis vs Panathinaikos predictions: Benitez's boys can blunt Betis threat
James Milton
Real Betis have drawn their last three home games in LaLiga
Panathinaikos claimed a 1-0 home win over Betis despite finishing with 10 men
Recommended bet: Draw or Panathinaikos double chance
Panathinaikos take a 1-0 lead to Real Betis for Thursday's Europa League last-16 second leg and there will be no shortage of experience in the dugouts at the Estadio de La Cartuja.
Betis boss Manuel Pellegrini is up against Panathinaikos manager Rafael Benitez, who won the UEFA Cup with Valencia in 2004 and the Europa League with Chelsea in 2013.
Panathinaikos had Anass Zaroury sent off in the 59th minute of last week's home leg but Vicente Taborda's late penalty has given them a precious advantage over their last-16 rivals.
The latest Real Betis vs Panathinaikos odds are available on LiveScore Bet.
Team news
Real Betis defender Diego Llorente is suspended following his red card in last week's first leg. Midfielders Giovani Lo Celso (thigh) and Isco (ankle) remain sidelined.
Anass Zaroury, sent off in the home leg, is banned. Giannis Kotsiras and Erik Palmer-Brown are injured and Moussa Sissoko, Adriano Jagusic and Pavlos Pantelidis are not in the Europa League squad.
The latest Real Betis vs Panathinaikos odds are available on LiveScore Bet.
The stats
Five of Real Betis' last seven matches featured under 2.5 goals.
Both teams have scored in five of Betis' last six home fixtures.
Betis have not won any of their last five league and cup games.
Panathinaikos have lost only one of their last seven away fixtures.
Five of Panathinaikos's last six Europa League games were draws in 90 minutes.
Panathinaikos failed to score in four of their last five defeats in all competitions.
The latest Real Betis vs Panathinaikos odds are available on LiveScore Bet.
Prediction
Panathinaikos's 1-0 first-leg win over Real Betis was not pretty as their only shot on target was Vicente Taborda's decisive 88th-minute penalty.
The spot-kick was awarded after Diego Llorente had been sent off for Betis, who failed to capitalise on an earlier red card for Anass Zaroury.
A 1-0 advantage sets up the tie nicely for Panathinaikos boss Rafael Benitez, whose side should be backed to qualify for the quarter-finals by avoiding defeat in 90 minutes.
The draw is a big runner, having landed in five of the Greek giants' last six Europa League games as well as Betis' last three home fixtures in LaLiga.
Manuel Pellegrini's men are winless in five matches in all competitions and they needed an 88th-minute goal from Pablo Fornals to seal their most recent home victory over Valencia at the start of February.
Benitez knows how to set up a team to frustrate opponents in Europe and Panathinaikos have suffered only two defeats in 18 matches since Christmas.
That run includes a 1-0 away win at Greek Super League title contenders Olympiakos and a 1-1 Europa League draw with Roma so Betis may struggle to turn the tie around on home turf.
Back Draw or Panathinaikos double chance, available at 8/5 with LiveScore Bet.
The latest Real Betis vs Panathinaikos odds are available on LiveScore Bet.
