Betis Faces Injury Crisis Ahead of Crucial Matches

Following a 2-0 defeat, Real Betis now faces a must-win situation in their upcoming match on Thursday, which is crucial for securing a spot in the top 8 of the UEFA Europa League and avoiding the playoff in February. The team returns from their visit to PAOK in Thessaloniki with an exacerbated injury situation.

Key players such as Bellerín, Junior Firpo, Amrabat, Isco, Riquelme, and Cucho Hernández did not travel to Greece due to various physical issues that will keep them sidelined for an extended period. Additionally, Antony is dealing with persistent pubic discomfort stemming from the match against Villarreal. Although Bakambu is eligible to rejoin the squad after serving a suspension, the list of injured players has drastically increased as they prepare to face Alavés on Sunday.

Gio Lo Celso was substituted just six minutes after coming on due to an injury that the club will evaluate through medical tests in the coming hours. Ruibal also requested to be substituted due to discomfort; while it does not appear to be serious, it has been confirmed by Pellegrini that he will not participate on Sunday. Furthermore, Ricardo Rodríguez also reported discomfort after the match at the Tumba Stadium in Thessaloniki.

If Antony cannot recover in time, Betis could head into their Sunday match at Mendizorroza with as many as ten injuries. This creates a dire situation during a particularly challenging phase in the calendar, with two matches per week and concurrent participation in La Liga, the Europa League, and the Copa del Rey. The defeat in Greece will necessitate an additional effort from the players on Thursday against Feyenoord to secure their progression to the knockout stage of the continental tournament.

As they enter the eighth round of league play, Betis is currently positioned eighth in the table, tied on points with Porto. A victory against the Dutch team may not suffice to guarantee their position unless the teams above them falter and Porto can recover their one-goal deficit in goal difference. Thus, although Betis still controls their destiny, they have made their path significantly more challenging in what could have been a straightforward match.

Except for Antony, who may recover, none of the injured players will be available for Sunday’s match. Additionally, for Thursday’s game, only Ruibal could potentially rejoin the squad if his injury is confirmed to be minor. Consequently, expectations for their next two matches, including the Liga encounter against Valencia the following weekend, are complicated. All eyes are also on Cucho’s potential recovery in time for the Copa match against Atlético, marking a critical ‘final’ among the many challenges that lie ahead for Betis.