Betis vs Gent prediction: EUROPE: Conference League – Play Offs betting tips on match 2025-02-19 17:45.
[p]The signing of Antony is proving to be a masterstroke by Real Betis as he scored in a third successive game to help them to a 3-0 weekend win over Real Sociedad. The Manchester United loanee also helped Betis to a 3-0 victory in their UEFA Conference League knockout play-off round first leg against Gent, with Betis now on the verge of advancing beyond the exact same stage they fell at last season. [/p]
[p]It’s incomprehensible to think that the Green and Whites won’t be in the last 16, particularly as they were unbeaten across their three Conference League home games in the league phase (W2, D1). Only once in history have Betis ever lost a European home game by a scoreline big enough to force extra time here, so despite winning just two of their last seven home games in all competitions (D4, L1), they’ll feel the hard work is already done. [/p]
[p]It will be quite the opposite feeling for Gent, who have all the hard work ahead of them if they’re to pull off a minor miracle. Highlighting the difficulty of the task, only once in Conference League history has a team ever overturned a three-goal first-leg deficit to win a knockout tie, with that honour falling to Olympiacos last season when they won away in the second leg at Maccabi Tel Aviv. [/p]
[p]A win of any kind seems a far-fetched possibility for Gent, nevermind one by the four-goal margin they’d need to advance in regulation time, as they’ve won just one of their last 14 away games in all competitions (D7, L6). Concerningly, exactly half of those games saw them fail to score, and having lost all three Conference League games in that run, there appears little hope for them here. [/p]
[p]Players to watch: Cédric Bakambu has scored three of his five goals for Betis in this competition, while his side have won on all four of his scoring appearances this term, including in the reverse. A Dante Vanzeir goal could mean an entertaining clash as his two scoring appearances since joining Gent in January saw at least five match goals. [/p]
[p]Hot streak: None of Gent’s last five Conference League games saw both teams score. [/p]
[p][i]Written by Chris Wilson[/i][/p]