Real Betis vs Panathinaikos Preview & Prediction | 2025-26 UEFA Europa League | Round of 16
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2025 UEFA Europa Conference League runners’ up Real Betis need to come from behind against Greek giants Panathinaikos in the UEFA Europa League round of 16.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – TNT Sports / USA – Not televised
How to watch online: UK – discovery+ / USA – Paramount+
Key stats
- The first leg was the first UEFA match between Panathinaikos and Real Betis.
- Prior to this tie, Real Betis had played only three previous UEFA matches against Greek opposition. They met Olympiacos twice in the 2018/19 Europa League group stage, drawing 0-0 in Greece and winning 1-0 at home, and on Matchday 7 of this season’s Europa League they lost 2-0 away to PAOK.
- Real Betis are aiming to reach the UEFA Cup/UEFA Europa League quarter‑finals for the first time. This is their fourth round of 16 tie in the Europa League era, the most recent coming in 2022/23 when they lost 5-1 on aggregate to Manchester United.
- Real Betis have won their last five UEFA two-legged ties.
- Real Betis have lost only one of their last 12 UEFA home matches (W8 D3), and they have won five of their last six (D1).
- Real Betis have scored exactly two goals in each of their last seven UEFA home matches.
- Real Betis have won one and lost one of their two previous UEFA two‑legged ties after losing the first leg away by a one‑goal margin.
- Panathinaikos have lost 15 and drawn one of their 16 previous UEFA away matches against Spanish teams.
- Panathinaikos have lost all their seven previous UEFA two-legged ties against Spanish teams.
- Panathinaikos are appearing in the UEFA Europa League round of 16 for the first time since the 2009/10 campaign, when their run ended in a 4–1 aggregate defeat to Standard de Liège.
- Panathinaikos are aiming to become the first Greek team to reach the UEFA Cup/UEFA Europa League quarter‑finals since the 2002/03 season, when they themselves fell 2-1 on aggregate to Porto in the last eight.
- Panathinaikos have lost only two of their last 16 UEFA matches (W5 D9). They are unbeaten in the eight most recent (W3 D5).
- Panathinaikos are unbeaten in their last nine matches in all competitions (W5 D4).
- Panathinaikos have won five of their last seven UEFA two‑legged ties after winning the first leg at home by a one‑goal margin.
Real Betis vs Panathinaikos prediction
The first-leg of this UEFA Europa League round of 16 tie saw Panathinaikos edge past Real Betis by a goal to nil in Athens last week, courtesy of a Vicente Taborda penalty late on after Anass Zaroury and Diego Llorente had been sent off for either side respectively.
Rafa Benitez’ role in charge of Panathinaikos has been coming under doubt in recent weeks with the Athenians underperforming domestically but they had just about discovered some form just in the nick of time. Manuel Pellegrini is another veteran coach under pressure with the Chilean heavily criticised by Los Verdiblancos supporters, despite how well he has done and, frankly, is doing.
Betis are fifth in La Liga and have a couple of routes to UEFA Champions League qualification but going deep in Europe remains a major goal – and something they did last season. It could well be a long night in Seville with Betis favourites at La Cartuja, but a Benitez-coached Panathinaikos side can be very tough to beat.
Real Betis vs Panathinaikos tip: Real Betis to win & under 3.5 goals
