Nottingham Forest can exploit a 20-year unwanted Real Betis record in Europa League clash

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Nottingham Forest are heading into their much-anticipated Europa League campaign on Wednesday against Real Betis, where they will hope to exploit a shocking record in Spain.

Forest are the third favourites to win the Europa League despite not competing in UEFA competition for 30 years, highlighting the strength of Ange Postecoglou’s squad.

However, the quality of the squad on paper is one thing, but the Reds are set to face an opponent in Real Betis who have plenty of recent experience on the European stage.

Postecoglou’s Europa League experience will help, but Forest can also cling to a record that Real Betis will be desperate to break on Wednesday.

Real Betis have a shocking record against English clubs

You have to go back to the 2020/21 season to find Betis’ last campaign outside of UEFA competition, with Premier League-winning manager Manuel Pellegrini helping the Seville side remain consistent at the level.

For all his experience, though, Pellegrini hasn’t been able to help Betis shake their terrible record against English clubs in European competition.

The one victory came in November 2005 when Betis beat Chelsea in Seville, but ever since, the Spanish side have failed to take victory against an English side, including against The Blues in the UEFA Conference League final last season.

Contrastingly, the Reds don’t have a wealth of experience against Spanish sides, but one clash with a giant of Spanish football did see Brian Clough add another trophy to his historic time as Forest boss.

Nottingham Forest have tasted success against Spanish sides

The Forest legend guided the Reds to successive European Cups in 1979 and 1980, which also qualified the club for the European Super Cup which would be played the following season.

Both Super Cups were contested against Spanish sides over two legs, with the tie against Barcelona providing a memorable victory for Clough’s side.

A 1-0 win on Trentside gave Forest the advantage heading to Barcelona, where a 1-1 draw was enough to seal the trophy. However, a season later, Forest lost on away goals to Valencia and failed to retain their trophy.