Two UEFA Champions League qualifiers continue their preparations for the new season when Real Betis host Lyon on Wednesday and the French side can come out on top.
Betis are looking forward to their first UEFA Champions League campaign in 21 years after finishing fifth in La Liga last season and they will get a taste of the required standard when they meet Lyon, who ended up fourth in Ligue 1 last year.
The teams met in the league phase of the Europa League last season, when the Spanish side inflicted Lyon's only defeat at that stage, going on to reach the quarter-finals, while Lyon were upset by another Spanish outfit, Celta Vigo, in the round of 16.
Real Betis v Lyon Tips Summary
Best Bet - Lyon to win @ 8/5
Alternative Bet - Lyon win 2-1 correct score @ 11/1
Bet Builder - Draw/Lyon - Half-Time/Full-Time, Julien Duranville to score at any time @ 20/1
Real Betis v Lyon Prediction
Best Bet: Lyon to win @ 8/5
Lyon didn't particularly enjoy their trips to Spain last season, but they look worth backing to come away with a victory on their latest clash with Betis.
The Spanish side won 2-0 when the teams met at the Estadio Olimpico de la Cartuja last October and this match will also be played at Betis' temporary home in Seville while their own ground, the Estadio Benito Villamarín, is renovated.
That match was the only one of Lyon's eight Europa League league-phase fixtures that did not end in a victory as they finished top of the table and were seeded first for the knockout stage, only for another Spanish side ended their hopes as they lost to Celta.
That result came during a quiet spell for Lyon but they recovered to win 13 successive matches between December and February and still finished just one point off third place in France despite losing their final two league games.
Betis took full advantage of Spain's fifth UEFA Champions League place as they finished nine points behind fourth-placed Atletico Madrid, but they lost only three of their 19 home league games.
The Green and Whites have had a mixed pre-season to date, however, losing 1-0 to Segunda Division side Granada last time out after beating lowly Recreativo Huelva only 1-0 in their previous match.
Lyon won their first three friendlies this year before losing to Sparta Prague, but they handed Bundesliga side Wolfsburg their first pre-season loss with a 2-0 success last time out and look in the shape to earn an element of revenge by winning this match.
Alternative Bet: Lyon to win 2-1 correct score @ 11/1
The Europa League clash between the teams last season saw Betis strike early with goals after 29 and 35 minutes, but Lyon had the better of most of the rest of the match.
They had almost exactly two-thirds of the possession, recording 10 shots to the home side's seven and taking six of the game's eight corners.
Lyon have scored at least twice in four of their five friendly matches, while Betis have managed only one goal across their last two matches and a 2-1 win for the visitors could be more likely than the double-figure odds suggest.
Real Betis v Lyon Builder Tip
Draw/Lyon - Half-Time/Full-Time
Julien Duranville to score at any time
Pays 20/1
This is a two-leg bet builder for Wednesday's match but it contains three elements, as the first is for the scores to be level at half-time before Lyon go on to win.
Lyon were held goalless at half-time in their latest outing against Wolfsburg while Betis are coming in after playing two matches that produced just one goal each.
The French side have plenty of strength in depth on their bench and could conjure up another strong finish.
Forward Julien Duranville looks like a prime candidate to score after a lively performance against the German side in which he hit the crossbar and it was his saved shot that fell to Ainsley Maitland-Niles for Lyon's first goal.
The Belgian can get on the scoresheet himself this time.
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Key Match Stats
None of the three meetings between these two teams have seen both teams score
Real Betis lost only three of their 19 home league games last season
Lyon were seeded first for the Europa League knockout stage last year
Lyon have scored two or more goals in four of their first five friendlies
Betis have scored only one goal in their last two matches
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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
