Real Betis vs Nottingham Forest predictions: Postecoglou's woes set to continue
Real Betis have lost just one of opening six games in LaLiga
Nottingham Forest have not won since opening day of Premier League season
Recommended bet: Real Betis to win
Real Betis will be high on confidence heading into Wednesday's Europa League clash with Nottingham Forest after earning a convincing 3-1 win over Real Sociedad on Friday.
The Andalusians beat the Basque side to build on a run which has put them in the top six of the LaLiga table.
Forest, meanwhile, have endured a tumultuous month which saw Nuno Espirito Santo sacked and replaced by Ange Postecoglou.
They are without a win in three games under the Australian, losing in the last minute to Championship Swansea in the League Cup, although they did earn a point at Burnley in the Premier League on Saturday.
The latest Real Betis vs Nottingham Forest odds are available on LiveScore Bet
Team news
Betis, who are managed by former Man City boss Manuel Pellegrini, will be without key playmaker Isco who faces another six weeks on the sidelines after picking up a leg injury on the eve of the season.
Left-back Ricardo Rodriguez, meanwhile, has not featured since the international break.
Diego Llorente made his first start since April in the win over Sociedad, but was subbed off at half-time. The defender was replaced by Marc Bartra, who himself had recovered from a muscle problem.
Forest could welcome back Brazilian defender Murillo who has not featured since hobbling off in the 3-0 defeat at Arsenal.
Ola Aina, however, is an absentee after picking up an injury on international duty with Nigeria, while midfielder Nico Dominguez is also out.
The stats
This will be the first ever meeting between Betis and Forest and the Spanish side have lost seven of nine previous European games against English teams, losing most recently to Chelsea in the 2025 Conference League final.
In major European competition, Forest's only previous meeting with a Spanish club was in the Fairs Cup first round in 1961/61, where they lost 7-1 on aggregate to Valencia.
This is the Tricky Trees' first game in major European competition since losing 5-1 to Bayern Munich in March 1996 in a UEFA Cup quarter-final.
The gap of 10,781 days between games is the longest by an English club since Wolves went 14,232 days without playing in a major European competition between 1980 and 2019.
The latest Real Betis vs Nottingham Forest odds are available on LiveScore Bet
Prediction
Betis have been hard to beat this season, only losing once in a defeat by Athletic Bilbao at the end of August. Their two victories have come at home, while three away games have all ended in draws.
The Andalusians reached the Conference League final last season and that run will give Pellegrini's players the confidence that they can compete in the Europa League.
As for Forest and Postecoglou, the Australian lifted this trophy with Tottenham in May after beating Manchester United in the final and he will be determined to prove the doubters wrong by taking Forest deep into the knockout stages.
The Premier League side boast some quality players, but this is a new experience and Forest fans have not been on a European trip since 1996.
This game may have come too early as Postecoglou looks to implement his ideas and the hosts should have enough talent and nous to win in front of their own fans.
