Real Betis vs Panathinaikos Prediction: Corner count to rise as hosts hunt goals

It's advantage Panathinaikos in their Uefa Europa League last-16 tie with Real Betis following last week's 1-0 win in Greece. However, the Spaniards have won their last three European games on home soil, spelling danger for the Shamrock ahead of Thursday's second leg at the Estadio de La Cartuja (20:00 GMT, TNT Sports 4).

Below are my Real Betis vs Panathinaikos predictions, supported by all the latest team news and match odds.

Sports Welcome Offer

New customers only. Deposit via Debit Card & place first bet £10+ (1/1+) on Sports in 7 days. £30 Sports & £20 Acca Free Bets within 10 hrs of settlement. 7-day expiry. Eligibility, payment excl. & T&Cs Apply.

Sports Welcome Offer

New customers only. Deposit via Debit Card & place first bet £10+ (1/1+) on Sports in 7 days. £30 Sports & £20 Acca Free Bets within 10 hrs of settlement. 7-day expiry. Eligibility, payment excl. & T&Cs Apply.

Team News

Real Betis pair Isco (ankle) and Giovani Lo Celso (muscle) are still sidelined due to injury, while Diego Llorente will serve a one-match suspension after receiving a red card for two bookable offences in last week's first leg.

Football Odds

Panathinaikos' medical bay is still packed out, with Cyriel Dessers (thigh), Giannis Kotsiras (muscle), Erik Palmer-Brown (ankle), Sverrir Ingason and Georgios Kyriopoulos (both knee) all injured.

However, Pedro Chirivella made his return from a calf problem as a second-half substitute in last Sunday's goalless draw at home to Panetolikos, while Ahmed Touba, Anastasios Bakasetas and Javi Hernandez, who all served suspensions in last week's first leg, are free to return to continental action on Thursday.

Anass Zaroury is banned, though, as, like Llorente, he received two yellow cards in Athens, leading to his 59th-minute dismissal.

Real Betis vs Panathinaikos Odds

Real Betis are 4/9 favourites to triumph in regulation time on Thursday, implying a 69.2% probability of success, while Panathinaikos are 13/2, or a 13.3% chance, to do the double over their Spanish counterparts, with the draw, enough to send the Greeks through to the quarter-finals, priced at 7/2.

The hosts are 4/7 to win the tie by any means, with the visitors offered at 5/4 in the same market.

Bet Builder - Georgios Kyriakopoulos (PAN) 1+ Shots & Davide Calabria (PAN) 3+ Tackles @ 2/1

I successfully backed Panathinaikos wing-back Georgios Kyriakopoulos to take two shots in last week's first leg, with the 30-year-old pulling through early on as he recorded an effort in the 11th and 15th minute.

As Panathinaikos are away from home and hold a one-goal lead, I'll go a little more conservative this Thursday, and back the former Bologna boy to shoot at least once, something he has done in eight of his nine Europa League appearances this season.

Today's Football Fixtures

I’m also adding in at least three tackles for his teammate, Italian defender Davide Calabria, who registered three tackles in the first leg and is averaging 1.9 per game across the Europa League campaign, managing at least three in three of his last five competition outings.

The visitors are likely to have a lot of defending to do in Seville, particularly on the right-hand side of defence, where tricky Betis winger Ezzalzouli will be running at Calabria.

Home Team Total Corners Over/Under +7.5 - Over 7.5 @ 11/8

Betis took seven corners to Panathinaikos' five in Athens, and chasing the tie on home soil this week, I expect a similar return from the Spaniards.

Panathinaikos conceded six regulation-time corners to Viktoria Plzen in their last European away game, with all six taken before the Czech side's equalising goal in the 62nd minute.

Unless Betis go a couple of goals ahead early in the tie, I expect the hosts to pile the pressure on throughout the match, which should create plenty of crossing and shooting opportunities.

Football - 2 Up Early Payout

Pre-Match bets on the 2 Up Early Payout market in selected games. Paid as a winner within 5 minutes if your team goes 2 goals ahead. Selected leagues only. 90 mins only. T&Cs Apply.

Sports Welcome Offer

New customers only. Deposit via Debit Card & place first bet £10+ (1/1+) on Sports in 7 days. £30 Sports & £20 Acca Free Bets within 10 hrs of settlement. 7-day expiry. Eligibility, payment excl. & T&Cs Apply.

Offers