AC Milan v Real Betis Betting Tip AC Milan – 25 October 2018

Milan can edge battle between top two.

Europa League Tips

Thursday 25th October 1755hrs AC Milan v Real Betis Football – Europe – Europa League The Europa League gets more competitive year on year and Thursday sees two clubs from two of the top five leagues come up against each other in one of Europe’s most historic stadiums. It’s a battle between the current top two in Group F with Milan and Betis both unbeaten and looking to stamp further authority on the section by taking valuable points from the double header against each other. Continue reading for a match preview of AC Milan against Real Betis with a best bet selected.

For a long time over the summer it appeared as though AC Milan would have to do without European football this season having fallen foul of UEFA’s financial fair play regulations, only for their initial two year ban to be overturned on appeal. Rino Gattuso and his players have wasted no time in taking advantage of that reprieve by taking maximum points from their first two games. A narrow 1-0 away to the first ever team from Luxembourg to compete in a European group stage section was followed with a more impressive 3-1 win at home to perennial Champions League qualifiers, Olympiakos. It places them top of the section and they can pull further clear with a win at home to Betis on Thursday but their overall form this season has been very disappointing and something like a continuation of last season’s efforts. Sunday’s defeat to rivals Inter in the derby has left Milan in 12th spot, already 13 points off leaders Juventus. Now, whilst any thought of a title challenge was fanciful at the beginning of the season, there’s no doubt this team should be much closer to the Champions League places than they currently are and serious improvement is needed.

Real Betis were one of the stories of the La Liga season last term as they finished sixth and secured a spot in the Europa League. It was further signs of how the club is progressing and having lived for so long in the shadow of rivals Sevilla in terms of European football, it’s very much a welcome relief for the club’s supporters. It’s the first time in four seasons Betis have played in Europe and they have started their section well, taking four points from the first couple of games. A win at home to F91 Dudelange came on the back of a hard fought draw in Athens. It has set them up well but they still have plenty of challenges awaiting them in Group F, beginning with this trip to Milan. Although there has been some serious investment over the summer this development of Betis into a competitive force in Europe is very much in its infancy. They’re also coming into this fixture on the back of a couple of 1-0 defeats to Atletico Madrid and newly promoted Real Valladolid in La Liga so will be desperate for a performance and result in the San Siro.

AC Milan v Real Betis Betting Tip

Neither of these teams enjoyed their domestic action at the weekend and in truth, this is probably looked upon as a consolation at the moment, although it would go some way to ensuring their participation in European football after Christmas which would be a major achievement. Milan have been very strong at home this season and are unbeaten in the San Siro as a home team. It includes a win over Roma and that, added to the success over Olympiakos, suggest they have an approach that works against visiting teams. Gonzalo Higuain is their star man and had scored six goals in his last five games before that run coming to a halt against Inter at the weekend. He’ll be pivotal to their chances once again. For Betis it’s been a stuttering last couple of games, drawing a blank on both occasions and it’s an area of the team that will need improvement to maintain a threat in La Liga and make progress in this competition.

In terms of bet for this match I am keen to side with Milan on the basis that their form at home has been solid, they have an in form goal scorer who has settled in very well and although the loss to Inter would have hurt them, they were more than a match for their rivals. Betis have just hit a stick patch at the moment and they may well leave without anything from this either.

Selection: AC Milan 10/11 @ Betfred