Real Betis have approached this stage of the season in excellent form, with a solid chance of breaking into the top eight of the Conference League group stage while being within touching distance of the top five in La Liga. Against a less formidable HJK Helsinki, they will play from a position of strength, aiming to manage the game carefully by exploiting the weaknesses of the underdogs.
Following a lacklustre run of three defeats at the start of winter, Real Betis have claimed three wins in their last four outings, drawing against Barcelona (2:2) during this period. In the fifth round of the Conference League, they secured a deserved away victory over Petrocub (1:0), creating a significant advantage in chances (1.12 vs 0.18 in xG). Over the weekend, an early dismissal of Aitor Ruibal didn't deter the team, as they, down to ten men, overcame a dangerous Villarreal side (2:1).
The main part of HJK's season concluded two months ago with the last round of the Finnish league. Their Conference League fixtures against Panathinaikos (0:1) and Molde (2:2), along with a friendly against Djurgården (1:6), have highlighted their' inconsistency. Against the Norwegians, the Helsinki side conceded 1.43 xGA and only managed to equalise by a stroke of luck in the dying moments.
At home, Real Betis have suffered just one defeat in 11 matches this season and have scored six goals in three games since early November. HJK Helsinki are struggling with match fitness following the end of their domestic season—the Finnish team are unlikely to muster enough strength in Seville to challenge a Conference League powerhouse.
