Real Betis vs Fiorentina: Conference League Semi-Final Preview
The stage is set for an exciting Conference League semi-final clash between Real Betis and Fiorentina at the Estadio Benito Villamarin on Thursday, May 1. According to Racing Post, the match will kick off at 8pm BST and will be broadcast live on TNT Sports 5.
In a thrilling encounter, Real Betis are looking to make their maiden European final appearance under the guidance of Manuel Pellegrini. The Spanish side have been in impressive form, beating Real Valladolid 5-1 last Thursday and have lost only one of their seven home games in the Conference League. Their most recent home win was a 2-0 victory over Jagiellonia Bialystok, followed by a 1-1 draw in Poland.
Fiorentina, on the other hand, are seeking to win their first Conference League title after being beaten finalists in the last two seasons. The Italian side have scored ten away goals during the Conference League’s league phase and knockout rounds, and will look to keep the tie alive ahead of next week’s return leg in Tuscany. As per Racing Post, Fiorentina have been in good form, with a 2-1 win over Celje on the road, followed by a 2-2 draw at the Artemio Franchi.
Prediction and Best Bet
Racing Post’s prediction for the match is Real Betis to win and both teams to score at 7-4 with bet365. This bet seems appealing given the home team’s form and Fiorentina’s ability to score away from home.
Team News
Real Betis have some injury concerns, with Diego Llorente, Marc Roca, and Chimy Avila out for the season. Cedric Bakambu is expected to start up front. Fiorentina’s striker Moise Kean has missed the last two games for personal reasons but is expected to return. David de Gea should continue in goal.
Predicted Line-Ups
The predicted line-ups for the match are:
Real Betis (4-2-3-1): Vieites; Sabaly, Bartra, Natan, Rodriguez; Cardoso, Fornals; Antony, Isco, Jesus Rodriguez; Bakambu
Subs: Bellerin, Peraud, Ruibal, Carvalho, Lo Celso, Altimira, Ezzalzouli.
Fiorentina (3-5-2): De Gea; Pongracic, Comuzzo, Ranieri; Folorunsho, Mandragora, Cataldi, Fagioli, Parisi; Gudmundsson, Kean
Subs: Gosens, Richardson, Adli, Romani, Harder, Baroncelli, Beltran.
Conference League Semi-Final Fixtures
The Conference League semi-final fixtures are as follows:
| Date | Fixture | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Thursday, May 1 | Real Betis vs Fiorentina | Estadio Benito Villamarin |
| Thursday, May 1 | Djurgarden vs Chelsea | 3Arena |
| Thursday, May 8 | Fiorentina vs Chelsea | Stadio Artemio Franchi |
| Thursday, May 8 | Chelsea vs Djurgarden | Stamford Bridge |
All games will kick off at 8pm BST.
In conclusion, the semi-final clash between Real Betis and Fiorentina promises to be an exciting encounter. With both teams in good form, it’s difficult to predict a clear winner. However, according to Racing Post, Real Betis to win and both teams to score is a good bet.
