The Spanish outfit are unbeaten at home in all competitions this season with the club’s last competitive defeat at Villamarín coming in a 1-0 loss to Getafe back in May.
That undefeated run was extended to 11 games with a draw against the mighty Real Madrid, with Aitor Ruibal cancelling out a Jude Bellingham opener in the La Liga clash.
The result sends a Europa League warning to Rangers, the Ibrox side almost certainly needing a result in Spain if they hope to reach the competition’s knockout stages.
Isco praises Real Betis “fortress”
Ex-Real Madrid midfielder Isco is now turning out for Real Betis and the former Spain international has sent Rangers a Europa League message.
Describing Real Betis’ home ground as a “fortress”, the 31-year-old believes the club’s home support can help drive the side on in European competition.
Isco – who once cost Real Madrid £23m – is just one of a series of talented played in the Real Betis ranks who’re out to break Rangers hearts.
“At the Villamarín, the fans carry us in every single game we play,” said Isco. “They have turned the ground into a fortress.
“When you have supporters like this, they drive us forward to play better and are a large part of why we have done so well here this season.
“We never think we will lose here.
“We could have won against Real Madrid, but when you look at the quality of the opposition, it’s not a bad result.
“And we have to play like this in the Europa League too and in every match if we want to achieve what we think we are capable of.
“I think it showed the calibre of this team, because we went a goal down to Real Madrid and took risks. We did that and got our reward.
“But that is what Manuel Pellegrini wants us to do. I am very lucky he still has trust and faith in me.”
Rangers have it all to do v Real Betis
With Rangers sitting in second place in Europa League Group C with eight points, Real Betis sit top on nine.
Sparta Prague sit third with seven points ahead of their trip to play Aris Limassol.
Rangers need to win to guarantee progression to the next round of the competition, with a draw not good enough if Sparta Prague win in Cyprus.
It means that stuttering draw with Aris Limassol at Ibrox certainly looks to have heaped the pressure on the side heading into the Europa League visit to Real Betis.
Whilst Philippe Clement has pointed to the safety net of Europa Conference League football, it’ll do little to pacify Rangers fans who had an expectation that this squad would get out of Group C.
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