Abde’s Impact: A Remarkable Return to Betis After AFCON

omidbasir- The return of Abde, after over a month participating in the Africa Cup of Nations with his national team, was one of the few bright spots for Real Betis during their visit to Mendizorroza yesterday. The Moroccan winger had already seen minutes on Thursday against PAOK in the Europa League, but against Alavés, he reclaimed a starting position for the first time in over 40 days under Pellegrini, demonstrating that he remains one of the primary offensive assets for the verdiblancos.

Ezzalzouli was instrumental in creating some of the best chances for his team, scoring the only goal for Pellegrini’s side in the match. He matched his personal best for attempts this season in LaLiga with five shots (two on target, two off-target, and one blocked). Additionally, he successfully completed two dribbles and contributed defensively with seven duels won and four ball recoveries. His return is a breath of fresh air for a squad beleaguered by a host of injuries, particularly affecting key attackers such as Isco, Lo Celso, Rodrigo Riquelme, and Cucho Hernández.

For Abde, the goal at Mendizorroza marked his seventh of the season. He has netted four in LaLiga, two in the UEFA Europa League, and one in the Copa del Rey. After being absent for over a month due to the African tournament, and with nearly half the season remaining, the Moroccan is on track to achieve his best scoring figures in the 2025-26 season. Last year, while playing for Betis, he scored more than seven goals only once. He is just two goals shy of matching his personal record and appears to have found a way to capitalize on the numerous opportunities he creates each game.

Last season, with nine goals across all competitions, he surpassed his previous personal best of six, achieved during his loan at Osasuna in the 2022-23 season. He now has four months ahead, with 17 Liga matches, at least three in the Europa League, and a minimum of one in the Copa del Rey to either match or exceed his best scoring tally with two more goals. This statistic underscores his progression at Betis and highlights why he has become a coveted asset in the market, from which the verdiblancos stand to gain significant value.

Fortunately for Pellegrini, amidst the serious injury woes affecting his squad, Abde is not dealing with any muscular issues. He appeared to have sustained a minor concern right after scoring the decisive 2-1 goal against Alavés. However, the club has clarified that it is merely a slight overexertion and should not hinder his participation in the crucial Europa League match against Feyenoord at La Cartuja on Thursday, where Betis will seek a victory to maintain their position in the top eight of the standings and secure a spot in the round of 16.