Injury Concerns for Real Betis as Cucho Hernández Faces Extended Absence

Injuries are always inconvenient and present an additional challenge for coaches. However, the recent injury sustained by Cucho Hernández last Saturday at Carlos Tartiere poses a considerable setback for Betis, particularly in the striker position, which the club has been actively seeking to bolster for weeks. Hernández is the team’s top scorer with 10 goals, eight of which are in LaLiga.

As of nearly 48 hours post-match, the club has yet to officially confirm the nature of the striker’s injury through a medical report. Nevertheless, Hernández has expressed optimism via his social media platforms, stating, “I will be back soon, aiming for more and better,” indicating that the muscle injury to his rectus femoris will sideline him for several matches during a crucial phase of the season, which includes Liga, Copa del Rey, and UEFA Europa League fixtures.

The silver lining for coach Manuel Pellegrini is that Hernández’s injury coincides with the return of Cédric Bakambu, who just completed his commitments with the Democratic Republic of Congo in the Africa Cup of Nations. Bakambu did not travel to Oviedo with the team as he focuses on regaining his fitness post-tournament. During Hernández’s absence, Bakambu will need to perform at his best to ensure Betis remains competitive, particularly in the Copa del Rey, where they face Elche in the Round of 16 on Wednesday.

Bakambu is among the players whose names are circulating in the transfer market, alongside Chimy Ávila. However, the club’s sporting management, led by Manu Fajardo, currently lacks the financial flexibility to make any new signings. Without player departures to create salary cap space, the prospect of securing a vital reinforcement for the striker position, or even addressing issues such as the left-back spot, remains uncertain.

The upcoming matches against Eder Sarabia’s squad in the Copa and the LaLiga contest against Villarreal, both hosted at La Cartuja, are crucial for Betis as they navigate this period without Hernández while waiting for potential exits to facilitate new acquisitions. Although the visit to PAOK next week in the Europa League is not critical—since Betis has already secured qualification—they aim to maintain a top-eight ranking for direct access to the knockout stage. Following that, they will face Mendizorroza in LaLiga and host Feyenoord (Europa) and Valencia (Liga) just before the transfer window closes, likely with new developments in their squad.