Betis coach Manuel Pellegrini refuse to talk about who be favorite for di second leg of Europa League quarter-final match against Sporting de Braga. Di Chilean coach admit say him team carry more responsibility after dem manage draw for di first leg wey end 1-1 for Minho. “No be say get favorite for dis stage. We get more responsibility because we manage draw for first leg,” Pellegrini yarn for pre-match press conference wey dem hold for Luis del Sol Training Center.
Pellegrini talk say e dey always hard to get good result away from home, especially for knockout tie like dis. “We achieve di goal wey be say make we no lose for Braga. Now we go try secure di passage here for our home ground,” di coach add. Him talk say him get “great hope” for good result and stress say di atmosphere for stadium go show say na special match. “Na first time Betis dey try reach Europa League semi-final, especially for home ground, in front of our fans,” Pellegrini recall.
When dem ask am about Sporting de Braga, di coach of di Andalusian side talk say dem be “team wey get plenty ball possession, dem like to build play well to reach opponent half.” Him ask him players to show intensity for dat aspect. “We go show intensity to contest possession if we want damage their defense. We go play very good game if we want overcome dem,” Pellegrini emphasize.
Di coach downplay Betis recent negative streak wey dem win only one of dia last 10 official matches. Dat win na 4-0 home victory against Greece Panathinaikos wey secure dia qualification for quarter-finals. “Fans dey happy, otherwise we no for get 62,000 or 63,000 people for stadium tomorrow. We dey compete for access to Europa League semi-final; I no think say get unhappy fans. We always want win every game, but e no always possible when we play twice for week,” di coach highlight. Betis dey currently fifth place for Spanish League.
For match against di Minho side, Pellegrini no fit count on Brazilian defender Natan wey suspended, nor defender Júnior Firpo and forward Ángel Ortiz wey both injured. Argentine midfielder Giovani Lo Celso no registered for European competitions. Di Chilean coach refuse to address “speculation and rumors” about Sporting alleged interest in midfielder Sergi Altimira. Him confirm say Spanish international Isco, wey absent since November because of injury, fit get some minutes against Braga.
Betis save some of dia better performances for European nights and dey strong position against Braga after 1-1 draw for northern Portugal last Wednesday. Di onus dey on Braga to establish first-leg advantage, but dem no get real complaints with draw after evenly matched encounter. If Braga want progress, dem need do am di hard way. But dem fit take some confidence from dia positive away performances for league phase wey include wins over Celtic 2-0 and Nice 1-0.
Betis remain unbeaten for dis season Europa League home matches, post four wins and one draw. Dem dey fifth for La Liga despite recent dip in form wey make dem collect just five points from dia last seven matches. Veteran midfielder Isco ankle no feature since November and Junior Firpo and Angel Ortiz unspecified injuries absent since international break. But Giovani Lo Celso muscle strain come off bench at weekend and fit be in contention to make him first start since January.
Brazilian midfielder Vitor Carvalho hip return to action for Sunday 1-0 league victory at home to Arouca but key Braga defender Sikou Niakate absent and dem rate am as injury doubt. Bosnian centre-back Adrian Barisic muscle strain no feature since February and Uruguay international Rodrigo Zalazar unspecified injury don sideline for three weeks.
Betis win dia last four Europa League home matches. Di Andalusians open di scoring for each of dia five Europa League home games. Six of Betis last eight games feature fewer than three goals. Betis keep clean sheets for dia last two home matches. Braga achieve just one shutout for dia last four away fixtures.
Betis reach last year Conference League final, where dem lose 4-1 to Chelsea, but dem look just as strong for Europa League and fit advance to final four by defeating Braga at Estadio La Cartuja. Europa League progression don become priority for Betis, wey don fall 11 points adrift of fourth-placed Atletico Madrid for La Liga. Dem compete at good level for last Wednesday 1-1 draw with Braga, win di shot count by 10 to seven.
Braga be technical side and carve out 61% possession share for opening leg. But dem weakened by absence of injured midfielder Zalazar and fit struggle to avoid defeat for night when Betis vocal home support fit give dem extra edge. Betis and Sporting de Braga play on Thursday at 21:00 local time 20:00 for Lisbon at Estadio Olímpico de La Cartuja for Seville, with officiating by Italian referee Davide Massa.
Do you have a news tip for NNN? Please email us at editor @ nnn.ng
