Our prediction for this Europa League match:
Top position in Group C will be at stake when Ludogorets and Real Betis go head to head at Huvepharma Arena on Thursday evening. Ludogorets have a chance to climb to first place in the standings, but they face a difficult task in the penultimate group game. There are no fresh injury worries in the home team, but midfielder Dominik Yankov remains in the recovery room.
Los Beticos, on the other hand, are one point away from sealing top position in Group C, and they are likely to adopt a cautious approach in Thursday’s clash. Fit-again forward Nabil Fekir is pushing for a start, while Sergio Canales is back from a domestic ban. Defender Luiz Felipe limped off with injury in a 2-1 loss to Atletico Madrid, with Victor Luiz likely to step up. Anyhow, the share of spoils is on the cards as both sides should be happy with one point from the match.
Highlighted Player (Sergio Padt):
Sergio Padt is a Dutch footballer who plays for Eredivisie club Groningen as a goalkeeper. Padt played for the likes of Pancratius, Hoofddorp, and Ajax during his youth career, but he did not see any game action with the Amsterdammers at senior level.
Following short loan spells with the likes of Haarlem and Go Ahead Eagles, Sergio Padt signed a deal with Belgian outfit Gent in June, 2011. After making 55 appearances for the club in the Belgian top flight, the Dutch shot-stopper joined Groningen in the summer of 2014. Sergio Padt did remarkably well to win the KNVB Cup with the Green-White Army in the 2014/15 season, with the team beating PEC Zwolle in the title game.
The Groningen goalkeeper, who was born on June 6, 1990, has five caps for the Netherlands U-21 team. Speaking of his senior career, he received two call-ups for the national team, but has yet to make his debut.
Highlighted Team (Betis):
Real Betis Balompie, better known as Real Betis, is a Spanish football club from the city Sevilla and is currently active in the Primera Division. The club hosts its home games in Estadio Benito Villamarin which holds a capacity of 57 000 spectators. The club colors of the club from Andalucia are green and white.
Real Betis is known for its rivalry with Sevilla CF. The Sevilla derby is one of the biggest in Spanish football.The most famous nickname of Real Betis is Verdiblanco’s which literally mean Greenandwhite.
The club from Sevilla had its biggest succes in 1935 where the club managed to win the Primera Division fort heir first and last time. In 1977 and 2005 Real Betis won the Copa del Rey. The biggest succes in Europe was in season 1977/1978 and 1997/1998 where the club got knocked out in the quarter final.
Famous players that ever wore the green white kit are: Denilson, Ricardo Oliveira, Finidi George, Gerrie Muhren and Ricardo.