Real Betis vs Jagiellonia Bialystok Prediction: Easy does it for Los Verdiblancos

It's turning out to be quite the season for Real Betis, who currently sit sixth in La Liga - with a good chance of qualifying for the 2025/26 Uefa Champions League - and are second-favourites (4/1) behind Chelsea (1/2) to win this year's Conference League. First, though, Los Verdiblancos must plot their way past Polish side Jagiellonia Bialystok, who they host in the first leg of their quarter-final tie on Thursday (20:00, TNT Sports 5).

Below are my Real Betis vs Jagiellonia Bialystok predictions, complete with all the latest team news and match odds, ahead of this week's game at the Estadio Benito Villamarin.

Team News

Moroccan winger Abde Ezzalzouli has missed Betis' last two matches with an ankle issue, and the 23-year-old looks likely to be absent again on Thursday.

Spanish midfielder Marc Roca (foot) is closing in on a return to action after last featuring on February 16, but this game may come too soon for the 28-year-old.

Football Odds

However, Isco, who has scored two of his nine goals this season in the Conference League, is back after serving a suspension in Saturday's 1-1 draw with Barcelona. The Spanish playmaker is expected to come straight back into Manuel Pellegrini's starting XI, with either Pablo Fornals or Giovani Lo Celso dropping down to the bench.

Youssouf Sabaly, Ricardo Rodriguez, Diego Llorente, Jesus Rodriguez, Chimy Avila and Cederic Bakambu are all in contention for promotions to the starting XI, but Pellegrini may opt against wholesale changes for the first leg.

Jagiellonia are missing injured Spanish defender Adrian Dieguez (knee), while there are major doubts over the participation of Czech midfielder Michael Sacek (leg), who has been out of action since being withdrawn in the first half of his side's Conference League last-16 second leg against TSC.

Angolan forward Afimico Pululu began Jagiellonia's 1-1 draw with Piast on Sunday on the bench, but after scoring eight times in 10 Conference League appearances this season, he looks certain to start in Seville.

Real Betis vs Jagiellonia Bialystok Odds

Betis (1/4) are heavy favourites to win their home leg, implying an 80% chance of success, while Jagiellonia are 10/1, or a 9.1% chance, to claim a historic victory over the Spanish side.

The draw is priced at 5/1, both teams to score at 10/11, and over 2.5 total goals at 1/2.

Betis striker Cucho Hernandez (5/6) heads the anytime goalscorer market ahead of teammates Isco and Bakambu (both 23/20), with Pululu (16/5) first up for the visitors.

To Win to Nil - Real Betis @ 6/5

Betis have been in terrific form of late, and their eight-game unbeaten run has included a 2-1 win over Real Madrid, a victory by the same scoreline against Sevilla in the Seville derby, and, most recently, a 1-1 draw with Barcelona, highlighting their big-game credentials.

A game against Jagiellonia may not jump out quite as much as one against any of the aforementioned trio, but Thursday's match is the home leg of a European quarter-final, and it shouldn't matter what team Betis are facing - they should be right up for this one.

Pellegrini's side have lost just three times at home all season and just once in Europe, and that Conference League last-16 defeat to Gent (0-1) came after a 3-0 win in Belgium that had effectively put the tie to bed.

I can't see anything other than a Betis victory on Thursday, with the gulf in the quality of the squads plain for all to see. Jagiellonia may have only lost twice in this season's Conference League, but Copenhagen away is about as tough as it's gotten for them, and in their last European travel match, in Belgium against Cercle Brugge, they lost 2-0, albeit having won the first leg 3-0 in Poland.

Betis represent a step up in class from any of the previous clubs they've faced in this competition, and I think they will struggle to oppose themselves on their hosts, who should enjoy the lion's share of possession in Seville. The visitors will be happy to keep things tight and even a slender defeat wouldn't be a bad result for the Poles, who will hope to keep the tie alive for next week's return leg.

Jagiellonia have failed to score in two of their last three European away days, and we could see them make it three in four on Thursday against a Betis outfit that have kept four clean sheets already in this Conference League campaign (and another in qualifying last August).

Player to Receive a Card - Joao Moutinho (JAG) @ 13/5

Jagiellonia left-back Joao Moutinho - not to be confused with his namesake, the former Wolves midfielder now at Braga - has featured seven times in this season's Conference League, registering an assist and receiving one yellow card.

The Spezia loanee was booked in the second leg of Jagiellonia's quarter-final against Cercle Brugge, and he's averaging 1.3 fouls per game in the competition.

Meanwhile, in the 2024/25 Ekstraklasa, Moutinho has been carded six times in 22 appearances.

On Thursday, the 27-year-old could be up against Manchester United loanee Antony, who has been starring on Betis' right wing since making a temporary switch to Spain in January.

The Brazilian has scored twice in four Conference League outings for Los Verdiblancos while being fouled, on average, twice a game.

Vitoria left-back Joao Mendes was booked for a foul on Antony in Betis' last-16 second-leg victory in Portugal last month, and another Portuguese full-back, Moutinho, looks primed to follow suit.

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