Celtic vs Real Betis: Europa League preview, team news, stats, kick-off

Team news and stats ahead of Celtic vs Real Betis in the Europa League group stage on Thursday; kick-off 8pm.

Team news

Celtic defender Stephen Welsh returns from a muscle injury but Tony Ralston and James Forrest miss out through knocks.

Celtic will have to settle for a place in the Europa Conference League after the turn of the year after finishing third in Group G and Ange Postecoglou will use the game against Real Betis to give some of his fringe players a run out.

• Europa League fixtures | Tables

Celtic boss Postecoglou had stated that the hamstring injury Jota sustained against Hearts last Thursday would keep him out for a few weeks but has now confirmed he will not be fit for the League Cup final against Hibs on December 19.

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How to follow

Follow Celtic vs Real Betis with our dedicated live blog across Sky Sports' digital platforms.

Opta stats

• Real Betis' 4-3 victory against Celtic on MD1 is the only previous meeting between these sides in European competition. It's one of nine occasions in which Real Betis have conceded 3+ goals in a single match in Europe, but the only time they've won (D1 L7).
• Celtic have lost each of their last seven matches against Spanish opposition in Europe since defeating Barcelona 2-1 in the UEFA Champions League in November 2012.
• Celtic defeated Ferencvaros 2-0 in their last home match in European competition on MD3, ending a run of seven home matches in the competition without a clean sheet (18 goals conceded). They haven't kept consecutive home clean sheets in a single season in major European competition since 2006-07, when they recorded four consecutive shut-outs in the UEFA Champions League.
• Real Betis lost their last away match in Europe against Bayer Leverkusen on MD4 - they haven't lost consecutive games on the road in European competition since 1998, when they lost against Chelsea in March and Vejle BK in September.
• Only Bayer Leverkusen (11) have generated more shots following high turnovers (sequences beginning within 40+ metres of the opposition goal) than Celtic in the UEFA Europa League this season (10). Ange Postecoglou's side are one of only four teams to have made 50+ high turnovers overall this term.

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