Real Betis vs Lyon Prediction: Hosts can breach visitors’ stubborn defence

Lyon have had a perfect start to their Uefa Europa League campaign, having won all three of their fixtures so far. They face a tricky test on Thursday (20:00 GMT, TNT Sports 5) as they head to Seville to take on Real Betis.

The Spanish side are unbeaten in this competition but have won just one of their three matches to date. Below you will find my Real Betis vs Lyon predicitons, aided by the latest team news and match odds.

Team News

Real Betis duo Isco (broken fibula) and Junior Firpo (hamstring) are still dealing with their respective injuries but both are expected to be back in contention before the end of the month.

Goalkeeper Pau Lopez will need to be assessed after he was withdrawn from Betis' lineup because of an issue he sustained in the warm-up before their 3-0 win at home to Mallorca in La Liga on Sunday. Alvaro Valles filled in for him so we could see him operate between the sticks again on Thursday.

Football Odds

Lyon are having to cope with a couple of injuries themselves with Orel Mangala (knee) and Ernest Nuamah (ACL) sidelined. Influential winger Malick Fofana has missed the last two matches with an ankle sprain, so the French club will need to monitor him ahead of the trip to Seville.

Captain Corentin Tolisso should lead the side from midfield, and the player has been dabbling amongst the goals this term with four already across all competitions.

Today's Football Fixtures

Real Betis vs Lyon Odds

Betis have won four of their seven home games across all competitions this season and they are 10/11 to come out on top here. The hosts have drawn two of their European fixtures this term and stalemate is marketed at 11/4 (implied probability of 26.7%).

Lyon have won all three of their UEL matches so far and they are an appealing 3/1 to collect the three points. They are also yet to concede in this competition and they are 13/2 to win to nil.

Betis' pas three home games in all competitions went under 3.5 goals, which is valued at 4/9 for Thursday.

Both Teams To Score - Yes & Under 4.5 Goals @ 6/5

On paper this is a very interesting contest because you have a side who reached the Uefa Conference League final last season against a team who have started their current Europa League campaign flawlessly.

Lyon are yet to concede in this competition, while their defensive solidity has also been a running theme in Ligue 1. However, if there is a team to be the ones to breach their back line in Europe, it seems like it will be Betis.

Manuel Pellegrini's side is filled with quality, particularly in attack, and I believe that they will present a threat that Lyon have not yet faced in this competition. The selection I have gone for is BTTS - Yes and Under 4.5 Goals, which landed inside this stadium when Betis drew 2-2 with Nottingham Forest back in September.

BTTS is yet to strike for Lyon but I think this is where they will most struggle to keep the opposition out. And most of their matches in all competitions this campaign have been low-scoring, so the goal threshold shouldn't be an issue.

Anytime Goalscorer - Antony @ 2/1

I think 2/1 is an enticing price for Antony to find the back of the net in this clash. The Brazilian winger has found a new lease of life since joining Betis in January, initially on loan from Manchester United, before making the move permanently in the summer.

He's had an impressive start to the season with five goals in nine appearances across all competitions. One of them has come in the Europa League, which came inside La Cartuja against Forest on matchday one.

Antony should be full of confidence heading into Thursday, though, having bagged a brace in Sunday's 3-0 triumph over Mallorca, while also teeing up Abde Ezzalzouli for the other goal in the match.

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