Betis vs D. Zagreb prediction: EUROPE: Europa Conference League – Play Offs betting tips on match 2024-02-14 20:00.
Real Betis and Dinamo Zagreb come into this UEFA Europa Conference League knockout round play-off tie having experienced similar European form, but yet contrasting fortunes. The hosts missed out on a third consecutive season in the Europa League knockout stages after three wins and three defeats weren’t enough to secure their passage from Group C and they were forced to settle for third place. But after losing just one of their past five matches (W3, D1), they are building a nice head of steam as they look to avenge those frustrations.
That recent form has been key to the hosts maintaining their fight to seal another European spot for next season and they come into the round holding onto an all-important top-six spot. Despite the growing feel-good factor at the club, history is actually against Manuel Pellegrini's men here with the Green and Whites failing to win any of their last seven home games in UEFA knockout ties (D2, L5).
Coincidentally, Dinamo Zagreb had an identical record to their hosts, but that was enough to secure a top-two finish in Group C of the Europa Conference League group stage. Six points off the pace in their domestic league after drawing at the weekend, Dinamo travel to Spain in decent form after losing just one of their past 11 matches across all competitions (W7, D3).
But they’re considered the underdogs for this contest and their record outside of Croatia highlights why. Not only has the Croatian side lost each of their past seven visits to Spain in UEFA competition by an aggregate scoreline of 23-4, but they also travel with just one win from their last ten European road trips (D2, L7), although that did come this season for Sergej Jakirović’s men against Astana (2-0).
Key battle: Betis goalkeeper Rui Silva has made just five saves in his four European appearances this season while conceding that same number in terms of goals. Looking to cause him more issues will be Zagreb forward Bruno Petković, who netted a brace at the weekend and in his side’s last Europa Conference League match (a 3-0 win against Ballkani).
Hot streak: Each of Zagreb’s last five Europa Conference League matches saw only one side score on the day.