2025-26 UEFA Europa League: League Phase – Real Betis vs Nottingham Forest

Real Betis kick off the league phase of their 2025-26 UEFA Europa League campaign against Nottingham Forest.

Real Betis qualified for this stage with a sixth-placed La Liga finish last season, whilst Forest were promoted from the UEFA Conference League in a swap with Crystal Palace after the Eagles couldn’t meet multi-ownership rules.

 

Team News

Real Betis have no fresh injury concerns to report after their 3-1 home win over Real Sociedad in La Liga.

Isco (leg), Marc Barta, Diego Llorente (both muscle), Nelson Deossa (ankle) and Pablo Garcia (international duty) remain absent.

Forest could welcome Murillo back into contention after he missed their last two matches due to a knock.

Ola Aina (hamstring) and Nicolas Dominguez (knee) remain absent.

 

When is Kick-Off?

Real Betis host Forest at La Cartuja, Seville, on Wednesday 24 September at 9pm CEST (8pm BST), live on TNT Sports 1 in the UK.

 

Stat Attack

• This is Real Betis’s first competitive meeting against Forest in all competitions.
• Forest are making their first visit to Betis, although the game is being played on neutral territory in Seville due to renovation works at Betis’ home ground.
• Forest are the fourth different English opposition that Betis have faced in all UEFA competitions (Chelsea x 3, Liverpool & Manchester United x 1).
• Abde Ezzalzouli has scored in Betis’ last three European matches (W1, D1, L1).
• Forest are yet to win away to Spanish opposition in all UEFA competitions (D1, L2).

 

Prediction

Although Real Betis has enjoyed a solid start to the season, clean sheets are their Achilles heel with just one clean sheet in six matches but they are nevertheless a team who can’t be underestimated with plenty of goals within them.

Forest meanwhile are still yet to win under Ange Postecoglou but they are still in a transitional period tactics wise and showed more promise in their 1-1 Premier League draw at Burnley, albeit with some wasteful finishing so a more polished display and control after conceding is needed.

Nevertheless, both teams clearly have plenty of attacking threats but leaky defences so this could be a case of which defence is the less sloppy on the night, although I do think that we could see a draw here.

Prediction: Real Betis 1-1 Nottingham Forest

Result: Real Betis 2-2 Nottingham Forest