Al Taawoun can move quickly from a compact shape into its forwards, while Al-Faisaly can force repeated clearances through its remaining wide and central suppliers. Dortmund can press Betis into an early turnover, but Betis can also escape that pressure through the middle or the left. In each match the first attack has a clear answer. The following touch after a clearance will shape how far either side can pull away.
Al Taawoun used Bajrami to find Guiagon in the first meeting and later finished through El Bahraoui's supply. Al-Faisaly still made repeated entries and forced Mailson into saves, and Al Ettifaq subsequently reached Al Taawoun's box often. Awadat went off injured in that first meeting and Ehsan Haddad played it, but current reports say both miss this match; Ersan, Ahoua and Maradona supplied independent passes and crosses even after Awadat left. Hamdallah gives Al Taawoun another central target, so I expect the first home attack to be followed by Al-Faisaly working through its remaining suppliers for a reply. I'm siding with Al-Faisaly to keep the match close.
Dortmund can win the first central ball through Schlotterbeck and Nmecha, then connect Bellingham or Guirassy to a box run. Betis have shown a low-possession attacking route through Isco, Fornals and Ezzalzouli, including their Villarreal match, and a prepared restart created the opening against Malaga. Cucho and Firpo missed that last match, while Parrott started up front and Fran García filled the left-side role; Dortmund's Can and Konstantelias also missed Bayern, with Karetsas appearing only briefly. I expect Dortmund to press early and Betis to find a second pass into the space beyond that first wave. I'm siding with Betis to stay with Dortmund.
