Europa League 2022/23 Group C preview: Roma and Real Betis face Finnish and Bulgarian champions
Roma and Real Betis was drawn in this section together with HJK Helsinki and PFC Ludogorets Razgrad.
All four clubs have won the trophy in the past year, so Group C promises to be one of the most intriguing in the early stages of the Europa League. Here’s our preview:
Europa League group C matches
Match day 1.-8.9
- HJK vs Real Betis
- Ludogorets vs Roma
Match day 2 – 15.9
- Real Betis vs Ludogorets
- Roma vs HJK
Match day 3 – 6.10
- HJK vs Ludogorets
- Roma vs Real Betis
Match day 4.–13.10
- Real Betis vs Roma
- Ludogorets vs HJK
Match day 5–27 October
- Ludogorets vs Real Betis
- HJK vs Roma
Match day 6.–3.11
- Real Betis vs HJK
- Roma vs Ludogorets
Europa League Group C preview
Roma won the conference league with a win Feyenoord in last season’s opening final to secure a place in Pot 1 of the 2022/23 Europa League draw.
There were plenty of intriguing matches in the remaining three pots, with the Giallorossi grouped with Spain’s Real Betis in one of them.
HJK and Ludogorets complete the four, as Group C looks to be one of the most exciting groups in the competition.
Last season, Real Betis advanced to the 16 semi-finals of the competition and narrowly missed out on the top four. However, the Heliopolitanos managed to win their first Copa del Rey in 17 years and will be looking to build on last season’s success.
With the additions of Paulo Dybala, Nemanja Matić and Andrea Belotti, Roma look set to be favorites in Group C and should make it to the knockout stages without too much trouble.
Manuel Pellegrini’s team has won their opening three matches La Ligawhile Roma sits at the top Series A table after four matches. The two matches organized by these clubs in October will be decisive in the top of the group.
Ludogorets didn’t win any of their group stage matches last season and with the improved quality of their opposition, the Bulgarian league champions look likely to be relegated to Europe’s third-tier competition.
HJK recovered from the disappointment of losing to FC Viktoria Plzeň in the playoffs of the Champions League with a 7-1 aggregate score by making it to the group stage of the Europa League.
Last year they finished third in the European Conference League as they failed to score against both of the teams placed above them. The Finnish champions need to grab points from Ludogorets if they want a chance to finish third.
More Europa League previews
Group A
Group E
Group F
Preview of the Europa League
More Europa League resources
Europa League news
Europa League matches
The best scorers in the Europa League
Europa League winners
Europa League live broadcasts