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Real Betis v Zenit: Pellegrini's men aim to keep European Odyssey alive

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  • Real Betis v Zenit: Pellegrini's men aim to keep European Odyssey alive

    This February sees the return to European action for Real Betis Balompié. It’s been a highly successful European adventure so far for the Green and Whites, with qualification to this elimination contest against Zenit St. Petersburg.


    Real Betis qualified from Group G as runners up to Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen and it was a fiercely contested group with fellow green and white teams Celtic and Ferencváros also in the mix. Manuel Pellegrini’s side finished with 10 points from 18 in play, with three wins, two defeats and a solitary draw coming at home to the eventual group-winners. There were goals aplenty in the group stage, however – with the partidazo of the round being the entertaining opening tie between Real Betis and Celtic in the verdiblanco derby. After Celtic made a lightning start with two early goals, Real Betis roared back with four unanswered, eventually closing out the action-packed match to the tune of a 4-3 victory.


    Key to Real Betis’s form on the continent has been the man known as the Panda, Spanish striker Borja Iglesias. After a torrid early spell at the club, Betis supporters are now seeing the top striker he is and was at his former club Espanyol. The forward has hit a rich purple patch with 13 goals to his name in all competitions so far. His three goals during the group stage assured his side’s qualification to this knockout portion of the Europa League. The Galician striker has played in every match so far in Europe and will be chomping on his bamboo for more European glory.


    His and Real Betis’s next overseas mission will be in Eastern Europe in the form of current Russian Premier Liga champions Zenit St. Petersburg, who won the title with an eight point lead to rivals Spartak Moscow. The Russian’s enter the competition having been knocked out of Group H in the Champions League and finishing third, a total of five points behind Chelsea and eventual group winners Juventus. Coached by former player Sergei Semak, the Ukrainian is in his fourth season at the club as manager, having been a former assistant and caretaker coach. His preferred tactics form in the shape of a robust 4-4-2 formation with a double six that instils organisation and solidity.


    The Russian’s have a penchant for entertaining football with goals aplenty in many of their matches. Their last Champions League match versus Chelsea was a six-goal-thriller with both teams sharing the spoils 3-3. They also thumped last year’s runners up Spartak Moscow at home 7-1 in domestic compeittion. Their top scorer is legendary centre-forward Artem Dzyuba with 10 goals. The wily 33-year old knows where the back of the net is and will be a threat should he line up to face Manuel Pellegrini’s side. Brazilian midfield Claudinho is their conductor and playmaker through the middle and is certainly having a productive first season in the Gazprom Arena.


    Fellow Brazilian Malcom will be a familiar name to LaLiga followers with the forward having endured a disappointing solo year at Barcelona before his move to Russia. Their captain will also present a familiar face for European football fans in the shape of centre-back Dejan Lovren, who graced the Premier League for seven years between his tenure at Southampton and then Liverpool.


    These danger men do not match up to the side of years gone by with the likes of Hulk, Axel Witsel and poster boy Andrey Arshavin, however. A side who drew many plaudits and won the 2008 UEFA Cup at the now known Etihad Stadium with Arshavin a man of the match performer putting Glasgow Rangers to the sword 2-0. One other notable name from the yesteryear of Zenit is a former Real Betis player in Javi Garcia, who played for three seasons in St. Petersburg before his move to the Andalusian capital.

    Zenit are a rival to be respected, especially with their European pedigree. In 116 Europa League / UEFA Cup matches, the Russians have won 60 of them, drawn 20 and lost 36, making for a win percentage of 51.72%. The good news for Betis fans is that this will be the 22nd time they have faced Spanish opposition with five wins, six draws and 10 defeats giving them only a 23.81% against Spanish teams.


    Meanwhile, Real Betis come into this tie in fine form. A year which has already seen the team deservingly beat cross-city rivals Sevilla in the Copa del Rey, as well as comfortably beating Alaves 4-0 back in league action. More joy was to follow after that result, with a further two matches won with four goals - vanquishing Espanyol away (1-4) and a highly impressive victory away at Real Sociedad in the cup (0-4). It was the first time in 55 years that Betis had scored four goals in three straight matches. A rich vein of form.


    There was a bump in the road with defeat at home to Villarreal (0-2) but Betis bounced back, as they do, with a superb victory against Levante (2-4) and Rayo Vallecano (0-2), both away from home. Two superb goals by Borja Iglesias and William Carvalho, two men that not so long ago were struggling for form. It once again shows the managerial capacity of Manuel Pelligrini. That triumph in the first leg of the semi-final ensured Betis take the advantage going into the home leg early March and, with a professional performance, a date with destiny awaits.


    Returning to European matters, the team travel to Russia to play in one of the most technologically advanced stadiums in the Gazprom Arena. With a capacity of 67,000 and four star rating from UEFA, the stadium is at the cutting edge of technology with its iconic spaceship dome shape and lofty white antennas. Its roof ensures that football can be played even in the midst of winter as this match will be. The Gulf of Finland gives the area a chilly feel and come match time the temperatures outside could be as low as -9. However, inside, the stadium can be programmed to a mild 20 degrees so no problem for both players and spectators. The stadium is located on an island in the district of Krestovsky – hence the reason the stadium is also known as the Krestovsky Stadium.


    Even though Zenit are coming off their winter break, they will be a competitive rival. It is up to Real Betis to show their brilliant form of this season and return from Russia with love, and favourites for the return leg at the Benito Villamarín on 24 February.

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