It’s Europa League week: the 2025-26 edition of Europe’s second most important club competition is set to kick off with the League Phase, a format that debuted (with some success) last year. In this post, we will focus on the matches scheduled for Wednesday 24 at 9 p.m., excluding Nice-Roma (to which Il Veggente has dedicated a separate post). Among the most intriguing matches is Betis-Nottingham Forest, a clash between two ambitious teams from La Liga and the Premier League.
The Andalusians are dreaming of another run after returning to a continental final last year in the Conference League (lost 4-1 to Chelsea).
However, Manuel Pellegrini’s team, despite the return of former Manchester United player Antony, gives the impression of having lost something compared to a year ago. In fact, their league campaign has been too inconsistent so far, with their only two wins – in six games – coming in front of their home crowd against Alavés and Real Sociedad. Forest are in a much worse position: the decision to sack the coach who brought the Tricky Trees back to Europe, Nuno Espirito Santo, has not had the desired effect. On the contrary, the situation looks even more dire.
Since Ange Postecoglou took over, the Reds have lost 3-0 to Arsenal, been knocked out of the League Cup by Championship side Swansea, and could only manage a goalless draw with newly promoted Burnley. Under these circumstances, it is difficult to imagine Forest pulling off a coup in Seville, especially against an opponent with more experience on this stage: Betis are slight favorites in a match that is likely to produce at least three goals.
Predictions for the other matches
Elimination from the Champions League playoffs was a huge blow for Fenerbahçe: Mourinho is gone and the Turks have certainly not strengthened in the transfer market. The new coach, Domenico Tedesco, is not convincing: after the victory against Trabzonspor, there have been two disappointing draws. It would not be a surprise, in short, if Dinamo Zagreb, the Gialloblu’s next opponent, managed to snatch at least a draw.
Red Star, on the other hand, has a good chance of achieving a positive result against Celtic, which is notoriously more difficult when playing away from home: there should be no shortage of goals in Belgrade. At least one goal per side is also expected in the match between Freiburg and Basel, while in Malmo, between the hosts and Ludogorets, we expect a tight and unproductive match.
Europa League: possible winners
Dinamo Zagreb or draw (in Dinamo Zagreb-Fenerbahçe)
Betis or draw (in Betis-Nottingham Forest)
The match with at least three goals in total
Betis-Nottingham Forest
Europa League: matches with at least one goal per team
Red Star Belgrade-Celtic
Freiburg-Basel
The match with less than three goals in total
Malmo-Ludogorets
Odds comparison
The “Goal” bet is quoted at 1.57 on Goldbet and Lottomatica and at 1.55 on Snai. The “Over 2.5” bet in Betis-Nottingham Forest is quoted at 1.68 on Goldbet and Lottomatica and at 1.70 on Snai.
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