Real Betis target perfect Champions League start against Feyenoord

Real Betis will attempt to make it three wins from three in the 2026-2027 Champions League league phase when they host Feyenoord in Seville on Wednesday evening.

Manuel Pellegrini’s side opened their campaign with victories over LOSC and FC Porto, collecting six points from their first two matches. Feyenoord have three points after beating Como in their most recent European fixture.

Betis will be looking to respond after suffering a heavy 5-2 home defeat by FC Barcelona in La Liga on Saturday. Despite that setback, their start to the season has been strong, with eight victories in 11 matches across all competitions.

Their wins against Lille and Porto have left them ninth in the overall European standings. The remaining league-phase schedule will test Pellegrini’s team further, with Borussia Dortmund, Slovan Bratislava, Como, Arsenal and Bayern Munich still to come.

A top-24 finish remains the minimum objective for Betis, who defeated Feyenoord 2-1 in the Europa League league phase last season. That remains the only previous meeting between the two clubs.

Betis have also recorded four wins, one draw and one defeat against Dutch opposition. Feyenoord, by contrast, have struggled in Spain, winning only three of their 12 away matches there and losing eight.

Feyenoord arrive in Seville having won their past five matches in all competitions. Their latest success was a narrow 4-3 victory against Telstar in the Eredivisie.

Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s team recovered from a 5-1 opening defeat by Barcelona by beating Como 3-2 in the Champions League. They are currently 23rd in the overall standings and face further matches against Inter, Porto, Viking FK, Galatasaray and Leipzig.

Betis’ Champions League form is V-V, while their record in all competitions reads V-V-D-V-V-D. Feyenoord’s corresponding records are D-V in Europe and D-V-V-V-V-V overall.

Pellegrini will be without Junior Firpo, who has an adductor problem, and Cucho Hernandez, who has a calf injury. Aitor Ruibal is doubtful with a knee issue. Hernandez’s absence could give Troy Parrott an opportunity to score his second Champions League goal of the season.

Antony, who was left on the bench in the league at the weekend, is pushing to return to the starting line-up.

Feyenoord’s injury list includes Goncalo Borges, Jordan Bos, Jakub Moder, Reiss Nelson, Bart Nieuwkoop, Gijs Smal and Shaqueel Van Persie. Their respective problems are listed as undetermined, knee, back, muscular, knee, ankle and a knock.

Gjivai Zechiel is expected to be a key threat after producing six goals and four assists in 11 appearances this season. Nacho Ferri and Anis Hadj Moussa have also scored six times each in 2026-2027.

The predicted Betis line-up is Valles; Ortiz, Bartra, Natan, Gomez; Bernal, Isco, Fornals; Antony, Parrott, Ezzalzouli.

Feyenoord are expected to select Ernst; Read, St. Juste, Watanabe, Marmol; Zechiel, Vanhoutte, Targhalline; Moussa, Ferri, Valente.

Betis are priced at 1.52 to win, with more than 2.5 goals at 1.35 and both teams to score at 1.45. The prediction is for a 2-1 Betis victory, with the exact-score selection listed at 7.50.