UEFA Europa League: Real Betis vs AC Milan preview

AC Milan will be looking for revenge on Thursday as they visit Real Betis at Benito Villamarin Stadium in Seville for their UEFA Europa League Group F match. Betis are leading the group table after their 2-1 victory over AC Milan at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium two weeks ago, Antonio Sanabria and Giovani Lo Celso scored for the Spanish team in Milan while Patrick Cutrone scored a consolation goal for the hosts late in the game. The only previous clash between these two sides was all the way back in 1977, the tie was in the first round of the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup and Betis qualified after a 2-0 home victory and a 2-1 defeat in Italy. Betis have only been doing well in cup competitions lately, they have beaten AC Milan in the UEFA Europa League and they have also won 1-0 at Santander in the Copa del Rey, but their form in LaLiga has been terrible. They have not won a league match since the end of September, that's four matches without a win and they have lost three of them. Last week Betis were held to a 3-3 draw at home by Celta Vigo despite an early two-goal lead for the home side. Javi Garcia is the only injury concern for Betis, who can now count on Andres Guardado and Joaquin, both absent from the reverse fixture in Milan. AC Milan have to get a result here, otherwise they could drop to third place in the group table as Olimpiakos are expected to defeat Dudelange in the other match. The Rossoneri have done well after the defeat against Betis, they won three matches out of three in Serie A and moved up to fourth place in the league table. Last weekend they won 1-0 at Udinese, but that victory was secured with a 97th-minute goal from defender Alessio Romagnoli. Samu Castillejo was sent off in the reverse fixture and will be suspended for this match, while Gonzalo Higuain, Mattia Caldara, Lucas Biglia and Ivan Strinic are all injured. Probable line-ups: Betis: Lopez - Mandi, Bartra, Sidnei - Barragan, Canales, Carvalho, Lo Celso, Firpo - Sanabria, Leon Milan: Reina - Abate, Musacchio, Romagnoli, Laxalt - Bakayoko, Bertolacci, Bonaventura - Suso, Cutrone, Borini My prediction: 1-1 draw, AC Milan can't afford to lose this one but their injury problems might prevent them from winning it. Here are the odds for the match at Bet365: Betis win - 2.25 Draw - 3.40 Milan win - 3.50