In the Europa Conference League, Gent will face Real Betis in the play-offs on Thursday, February 13. The Buffaloes finished 17th in the League Phase and must play two more matches to determine who advances to the next round. This duel promises to be an intriguing clash between two teams aiming for European success. Read all about it in this article.
Gent vs Real Betis
The Buffaloes have never faced this Spanish team before, making it impossible to reflect on past encounters. This makes the match even more exciting, as both teams find themselves on unfamiliar ground. What we do know is that Real Betis has a solid squad that has performed reasonably well in Spain over the past few seasons. However, Gent has also proven to be surprisingly strong on European nights.
It is difficult to determine a clear favorite. Both teams have their strengths and weaknesses, and the form of the day will likely decide the outcome. Although Real Betis performed better than Gent in the League Phase of this European campaign, this does not mean the Belgian team is without a chance. Just look at the result of the match between Club Brugge and Atalanta. On home soil, the Buffaloes can undoubtedly count on the support of their loyal fans, which they must use to their advantage. A week later, on Thursday, February 20, the return leg will take place at the Estadio Benito Villamarín in Seville.
AA Gent: A Club with Ambition
Koninklijke Atletiek Associatie Gent, better known as KAA Gent, was founded in 1900. The club plays its home matches in the Planet Group Arena, formerly known as the Ghelamco Arena. Its club colors are blue and white, and it has been playing in Belgium’s top division continuously since 1989. Over the years, they have won the Belgian title once and lifted the Belgian Cup four times. They also won the Belgian Supercup in the same year they secured their league title. The Buffaloes regularly finish at the top of the Belgian league standings.
Gent is performing well this year, remaining in the top six of the Jupiler Pro League. Securing another title will be difficult for the Buffaloes, who are already 20 points behind league leaders KRC Genk. Nevertheless, the team continues to fight for a place in Play-off 1, which would guarantee them another European ticket. This year, they failed to qualify directly for the Conference League knockout round after defeats against Chelsea, Larne, and Lugano.
One of the Buffaloes’ biggest strengths is undoubtedly their attacking line. At AA Gent, Omri Gandelman and Max Dean are the key goal scorers. However, Dean suffered a cruciate ligament injury in late December and will miss the rest of the season. As a replacement, Dante Vanzeir was brought back to Belgium from the New York Red Bulls. He was immediately given 90 minutes of playtime against KV Mechelen. His speed and technical abilities make him a dangerous player for opponents.
Real Betis: A Spanish Tradition Club
Real Betis Balompié was founded in 1907 by a group of students. The club plays its home matches at the Estadio Benito Villamarín in Seville. Betis made its debut in La Liga in 1932 and won the Spanish league title just three years later. They have also won the Copa del Rey three times, most recently in 2022.
This season, Betis has had a challenging start in La Liga. Currently, Real Betis sits in 11th place in the Spanish league, positioning them almost exactly in the middle of the standings. In the Conference League, they encountered some stumbling blocks, just like Gent, as they suffered surprising defeats against Mlada Boleslav and Legia Warszawa. However, they still possess several strong players who can make a difference.
Since last month, former Manchester United winger Antony has been playing for Real Betis. The Brazilian was no longer part of United coach Ruben Amorim’s plans and thus decided to move to Spain. Additionally, Giovani Lo Celso has been the team’s top scorer, netting eight goals in 18 matches.
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