Real Betis vs Porto Preview: Team News & Prediction | 2026-27 UEFA Champions League | League Phase
by Alex Lawes ·
Spanish outfit Real Betis continue their return to the UEFA Champions League with Los Verdiblancos come up against FC Porto at La Cartuja in Seville.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV & online: UK – TNT Sports & HBO Max / USA – Paramount+
Real Betis preview: Impressive start
Manuel Pellegrini and his Real Betis side have been extremely impressive at the start of this season as they sit third in La Liga with six victories and a draw in their opening seven matches, having been both solid and enterprising.
The Andalusians also started their UEFA Champions League return with a victory, too, last month. They defeated Lille by three goals to two at Stade Pierre-Mauroy, coming from behind twice before Troy Parrott scored their winner in the second half.
Porto preview: Dominant domestically
Under the presidency of Andre Vilas-Boas, FC Porto are returning to a legitimate force and something approaching dominance domestically, with The Dragons backing up last year’s title-win by winning their first eight games in Liga Portugal this season.
In the UEFA Champions League, Porto did succumb to an opening league phase game defeat to Manchester City at Estadio do Dragao a few weeks ago as a result of a clinically taken Erling Braut Haaland brace.
Real Betis team news: Couple of absentees
Betis remain without longer-term absentee Aitor Ruibal, while former Leeds United left-back Junior Firpo is also sidelined after picking up a groin injury while on international duty with the Dominican Republic earlier this month.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Valles; Bellerin, Bartra, Natan, Garcia; Bernal, Ceballos; Riquelme, Isco, Abde Ezzalzouli; Parrott
Unavailable: Firpo (Injured), Ruibal (Injured)
Questionable:
Porto team news: Bednarek still suspended
Jan Bednarek remains suspended for this second league phase game with the former Southampton man sidelined alongside fellow defenders Zaidu Sanusi, albeit he is pushing for a return with William Gomes also a doubt.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): D. Costa; A. Costa, Perez, Kiwior, Moura; Veiga, Rosario, Froholdt; Pepe, Silva, Pietuszewski
Unavailable: J. Costa (Injured), Bednarek (Suspended)
Questionable: Sanusi (Injured), William (Injured)
Real Betis vs Porto prediction
Real Betis have been solid throughout this campaign but evolved their game to run riot against a supposedly solid, or at least conservative, Osasuna side at the weekend – winning by five goals to two. They will likely return to a more pragmatic approach here against a Porto side that let little slip, having conceded just four goals in those eight league games and so a low-scoring, cagey affair between two well-matched sides seems a decent bet down in Seville.
Real Betis vs Porto Tip: Under 2.5 goals
