Betis vs HJK prediction: EUROPE: Europa League – Group Stage betting tips on match 2022-11-02 20:00.
With an unassailable lead at the top of UEFA Europa League (UEL) Group C after a near-perfect five-game run (W4, D1), this game is nothing but a formality for Real Betis. The hosts’ six-point lead at the top of the group after five games is the joint-highest across all eight groups heading into the final round and it’s one that will give Betis an opportunity to rest key players ahead of a huge Seville derby at the weekend.
Qualifying for the knockouts came as no surprise for Betis, who’ve now made it out of all four UEL groups that they’ve competed in. Their final group games in previous UEL campaigns saw them play out draws with Rijeka and Dudelange before losing to Celtic in the final group game of their most recent appearance, perhaps hinting that they might take their foot off the pedal in this last game against weaker opposition.
Yet any hopes that HJK have of continuing that trend by becoming just the second side to win here this season appear slim, as the Finnish champions’ European adventure is indeed over after a winless group stage (D1, L4). After the domestic season finished earlier this month with Klubi securing their third successive Veikkausliiga title, this game serves as the last hurrah in what has been a memorable campaign for the Helsinki-based side.
It seems unlikely that Toni Koskela’s men will sign off with victory after failing to win seven of their last eight European away games (W1, D1), with the only positive results in that time coming against Silkeborg and Maribor. Since that 1-1 draw with Silkeborg, HJK have conceded five times without reply on their European travels and with just one win in 11 UEFA group games outside of Finland (D1, L9), another onslaught may be expected.
Players to watch: Luiz Henrique has proven crucial to Betis’ early qualification, making goal contributions in each of their last three European victories (G2, A2). Similarly crucial for HJK, Bojan Radulović previously played in Spain with Espanyol and his eight league goals this season have helped his side to a 32nd Finnish league title.
Hot stat: Six of HJK’s last seven competitive matches produced exactly one first-half goal.