Real Betis made their way into the Conference League play-off round on Thursday night, with a 1-0 win over HJK Helsinki. The Verdiblancos were ranked 15th in the draw and will face Belgian side Gent in February.
The home tie will take place on February 13 in Belgium, and the return leg a week later, on the 20th, at the Benito Villamarín. If they advance, there is a chance they could face competition favorites Chelsea.
The Conference League knockout bracket 👀
Who will go all the way this year?#UECL pic.twitter.com/Iq7Ko1U1ZI
— UEFA Conference League (@Conf_League) December 20, 2024
If they beat Gent, it will be one of the first classified, Chelsea or Vitoria Guimaraes, in the round of 16. On the Betis side of the draw, Panathinaikos are the other big team, although depending on the draw, Fiorentina could be involved in any possible semi-finals as well.
Betis have struggled in Europe in recent years, prioritizing La Liga for the most part, as evidenced by losses to Legia Warsaw and Mlada Boleslav. However, the path is there to reach the final, especially if they avoid Enzo Maresca’s team.