Henry Roldán
This Thursday, Manchester United vs Real Betis is another stellar match scheduled for the first leg of the Europa League round of 16.
The Red Devils advanced to this stage after overcoming winning 4-3 a tough obstacle, Barcelona, on aggregate. Meanwhile, the Spaniards finished the group stage undefeated and at the top of Group C.
The only previous clash played between these two clubs was a friendly match played on December 10, that ended with a 1-0 victory for Real Betis. Without further ado, at JefeBet we bring you the best preview of the stellar clash between Manchester United vs Real Betis.
Predictions, Picks, and Betting Odds for Manchester United vs Real Betis Europa League Round of 16 First Leg Game on March 9, 2023
- Where: Old Trafford, Manchester, England
- When: Thursday, March 9, 2023, 3:00 PM E.T.
- Moneyline: Manchester United (-225) / Tie (+380) / Real Betis (+700)
- Asian Handicap: Manchester United (-1.25, -109) / Real Betis (+1.25, -114)
- Over/Under (2.5): Over (-159) / Under (+128)
- Both teams score: Yes (-118) / No (-107)
All odds shown are brought by Unibet.
Betting on Manchester United
One of the hottest teams in Europe in recent weeks will not have an easy obstacle to overcome when it welcomes Betis to Old Trafford on Thursday. In addition to the good performance the Spanish team has been having, Manchester United has just been humiliated in the Premier League after losing 7-0 away to Liverpool. Either way, a defeat as such could serve to bring down to earth a team that had been on a roll in all competitions.
The Red Devils reached the round of 16 after beating Barcelona in the playoff series, and after being crowned the Carabao Cup champions against Newcastle two weeks ago. These achievements were put on the back burner after the low blow the team suffered at Anfield.
Erik ten Hag’s side has not lost at the Theater of Dreams since September, winning 17 of 19 matches played, and having conceded just 8 goals in 13 home games in the Premier League.
However, it is worth mentioning that that last defeat came at the hands of a Spanish team, Real Sociedad, in the Europa League group stage.
Possible lineup (4-2-3-1): David De Gea; Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Raphael Varane, Lisandro Martinez, Luke Shaw; Fred, Casemiro; Antony, Bruno Fernandes, Marcus Rashford; Wout Weghorst.
Betting on Real Betis
Real Betis has not been as dominant as Manchester United has, but the Spanish side’s season is by no means bad, and it could still be rounded off with a positive result on British soil.
Manuel Pellegrini’s side has not lost in four La Liga matches, and last weekend it drew 0-0 against Real Madrid. That draw kept the team in fifth place in the standings, just three points behind the Champions League places.
Real Betis also made it through the Europa League group stage undefeated and in a group it shared with the struggling Roma team, who is also in the round of 16 of the tournament.
One of the keys to the Betis’ good campaign is that it has managed to be efficient in front of the goal, which is why in the Spanish championship it has Borja Iglesias tied in fourth place in the top scorer’s list.
Throughout its group stage matches, Pellegrini’s team managed to score in every game. Before its draw against Real Madrid, the team had scored at least two goals in each of its previous four matches, including six goals in its last two matches away from home.
Probable lineup (4-2-3-1): Claudio Bravo; Youssouf Sabaly, German Pezzella, Luiz Felipe, Abner; William Carvalho, Andrés Guardado; Aitor Rubial, Rodri, Ayoze Pérez; Borja Iglesias.
JefeBet Prediction
At home, Manchester United should have everything going for it to come out on top against Betis, but it is still unknown how the team will respond to the drubbing it suffered at Liverpool over the weekend.
Moreover, Casemiro, a key figure in United’s midfield, might be absent on Thursday, which leaves ten Hag with no reliable replacement for the team’s leader on the field.
Meanwhile, Real Betis relies on the skills of its players to win crucial matches, and now the team has a great opportunity to do just that. In recent years, Spanish teams have managed to trouble Manchester, and Betis has been playing very well against the Spanish big teams and Roma.
Likewise, we should expect a very interesting and lively match inside the box. The Red Devils is one of the clubs with the highest amount of goals scored in the Premier League, while the Verdiblancos are going through a pretty sweet moment in front of goal.
Prediction: Both teams score (MAN 1 – BET).
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