Betis draw strength for Guimarães test

Real Betis Balompié have yet to lose a game in Europe this season but could do with a win against a sprightly Vitória SC if they are to strike out for top spot in UEFA Europa League Group I.

Previous meetings
• The sides are meeting for the first time in UEFA competiton.

• Betis' only past encounters with Portuguese opposition were a pair of 2-1 defeats to SL Benfica in the first round of the 1982/83 UEFA Cup.

• Guimarães's nine games against Spanish clubs have ended W2 D0 L7 (W2 D0 L2 at home – W0 D0 L5 in Spain). They are currently on a six-game losing streak against Spanish clubs, which includes a 3-1 loss at Betis's local rivals Sevilla FC in the 2005/06 UEFA Cup group stage.

Match background
• Following a 1-1 draw at HNK Rijeka on matchday two, Betis are unbeaten in four games in Europe this season (W2 D2).

• Betis are in this group stage for the first time, though they reached the round of 32 of this competition in 2005/06 after finishing third in their section in their maiden UEFA Champions League group stage campaign. They eventually bowed out to FC Steaua Bucureşti in the round of 16.

• Guimarães made a sensational start in Group I, beating HNK Rijeka 4-0 to secure their biggest win in European competition, and followed up with a useful 1-1 draw at Olympique Lyonnais. However they have not won in seven European away games (D2 L5).

• Guimarães picked up just one point from four games in their only previous group stage campaign, in the 2005/06 UEFA Cup.

• André Santos is the only Guimarães player with top-level experience in Spain, having spent the 2012/13 season on loan from Sporting Clube de Portugal at RC Deportivo La Coruña.

• Guimarães right-back Pedro Correia has some experience of Spanish football having spent the 2008/09 season in the lower leagues with Racing Ferrol, while midfielder André André turned out for Deportivo's B-team.

• Brazilian defender Paulão is the only Betis player to have played in the Portuguese leagues, representing A. Naval 1˚ Maio and SC Braga prior to joining AS Saint-Étienne and then Betis.

Team facts
• Betis, Group I rivals Lyon and FC Sheriff are the only sides to have drawn both of their group stage games to date.

• Club Atlético de Madrid (2011/12) and Sevilla FC (2005/06) both beat Guimarães en route to winning this competition.

• Along with domestic double winners Legia Warszawa (Poland) and NK Maribor (Slovenia), Guimarães are one of 11 cup winners in the group stage, with the others being Wigan Athletic FC (England, FA Cup), Swansea City AFC (England, League Cup), AZ Alkmaar (Netherlands), FC Girondins de Bordeaux (France), Apollon Limassol FC (Cyprus), KRC Genk (Belgium), SS Lazio (Italy) and Esbjerg fB (Denmark).

• Seville is the only city to have two representatives in this season's UEFA Europa League, with Betis's neighbours Sevilla competing in Group H.

Coach information
• Betis coach Pepe Mel played in the Real Madrid CF youth team with Emilio Butragueño and Míchel, but the striker was to spend most of his career outside the top flight, peaking with a four-year spell at Betis between 1989 and 1993. He briefly returned to the top division as CD Tenerife coach in 2001/02 and is back again having led Betis to promotion in his first season in charge, 2010/11. He has found the time to write two novels while coaching the club.

• Guimarães have benefited from coach Rui Vitória's ability to nurture young talent since his appointment at the start of 2011/12; the coach led the club to their first major trophy when they beat SL Benfica 2-1 in the 2013 Portuguese Cup final. A lower-league midfielder, he coached Benfica's youth team after hanging up his boots, joining Guimarães following a positive season in charge of FC Paços de Ferreira.