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Football tips

Betis should seize the initiative in Group F by beating Olympiakos

Confident Frankfurt can maintain 100 per cent Europa League record

Real Betis won at Barcelona before the international break
Real Betis won at Barcelona before the international breakCredit: Alex Caparros

Kick-offs from 3.50pm Thursday

It is tight in Europa League Group F with one point covering the top three but leaders Betis hold the advantage and can seal qualification with a game to spare by beating Olympiakos at the Benito Villamarin Stadium.

Olympiakos dragged themselves back into contention with back-to-back wins over Luxembourg basement boys Dudelange but they need to win one of their remaining games – away to Betis and at home to Milan – to stand a good chance of a top-two finish.

They drew 0-0 with Betis in Athens on matchday one but they were on the back foot for long periods and were grateful for their opponents' profligacy in front of goal.

Since then Betis have won 3-0 away to Dudelange and taken four points from key battles against Milan.

They are having an inconsistent season in La Liga but look genuine Europa League contenders and are close to banker material against Olympiakos, who are third in the poor-quality Greek top flight.

Besiktas have been making hard work of what looks like a weak Group I but they can keep their qualification hopes alive by beating Sarpsborg in Norway.

Sarpsborg are the fourth seeds in the group but have competed well and are second with two games left.

However, they lost 3-1 to Besiktas in Istanbul on matchday one and may suffer another defeat to the Turkish giants, who climbed to fourth in their domestic standings with a 4-1 victory at Ankaragucu on Saturday.

Eintracht Frankfurt are performing well on all fronts and can maintain their 100 per cent Europa League record with a home win over Marseille.

Confidence is flowing at Frankfurt after nine wins in ten games but last season's Europa League runners-up Marseille are out of contention this time after taking one point from a possible 12.

Recommendations
Real Betis
2pts 4-6 general
Besiktas
1pt 6-5 Betway
Eintracht Frankfurt
1pt 4-5 Sky Bet

Bet on these matches at Soccerbase.com


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