Betis and Real Sociedad start their path in a Europa League against Celtic and PSV Eindhoven with news for the creation of the Conference League and their sights set on the final in Seville.
The competition began on Wednesday with the clash between Spartak Moscow and Legia Warsaw, but the bulk of the matches take place on Thursday.
Among them, Betis receives Celtic at Benito Villamarín for their start in the competition, in which they are framed in a complicated Group G together with Bayer Leverkusen and Ferencvaros.
The Andalusians, who are ninth in the Spanish championship, are confident of getting off to a good start in Europe and staying on the right track after winning 2-1 at Granada on Monday.
«It is always important to win. The team is on the right path, “said the Andalusian team coach, Manuel Pellegrini.
Real Sociedad will visit the complicated PSV Eindhoven.
The Basque team is in group B, which also includes Monaco and the Austrian Sturm Graz.
Fourth place in LaLiga, Real accumulates three victories in four games, supported by their striker Mikel Oyarzabal, author of 4 goals at the start of the season.
In group H, English West Ham returns to Europe, after not competing in any continental tournament since 1976, making their debut on Thursday at Dinamo Zagreb.
In the other group match, Rapid Vienna will face Belgian Genk.
Another candidate to reach the final at Sánchez Pizjuán is Lyon, who will play on Thursday against Scottish Rangers, in group A, which also includes Sparta Prague and Danish Brondby.
In Group E, Lazio visit Turkish Galatasaray, while Marseille, another of the big names, travels to Moscow to face Lokomotiv.
The launch this year of the Conference League, the third European competition together with the Champions and Europa League, has led to a change in the latter competition.
The number of participants has been lowered to eight groups of four contenders, the first of whom automatically qualify for the eighth, while the second have to play a tie with the eight third parties in the Champions League.
The grand prize remains for the winner, who qualifies for the next edition of the Champions League.
Today’s matches:
Thursday September 16:
– Group E
Galatasaray (TUR) – Lazio (ITA)
Lokomotiv Moscow (RUS) – Olympique (FRA)
– Group F
Red Star (SRB) – Braga (POR)
Midtjylland (DEN) – Ludogorets (BUL)
– Group G
Betis (ESP) – Celtic (SCO)
Bayer Leverkusen (GER) – Ferencvaros (HUN)
– Group H
Rapid Vienna (AUT) – Genk (BEL)
Dinamo Zagreb (CRO) – West Ham (ENG)
– Group A
Brondby (DEN) – Sparta Prague (CZE)
Rangers (SCO) – Lyon (FRA)
– B Group
Monaco (FRA) – Sturm Graz (AUT)
PSV Eindhoven (NED) – Real Sociedad (ESP)
– Group C
Leicester (ENG) – Naples (ITA)
– Group D
Olympiacos (GRE) – Antwerp (BEL)
Eintracht Frankfurt (GER) – Fenerbahce (TUR). AFP (HN)