Return of Abde and Injury Challenges for Betis Ahead of UEFA Europa League Match

Abde’s return following his participation in the Africa Cup of Nations, where he helped Morocco secure a runner-up finish, marks a significant development at the Luis del Sol Sports City. On Tuesday, Real Betis continued their preparations for the upcoming match against PAOK, scheduled for Thursday, as part of the seventh round of the UEFA Europa League group stage.

The Moroccan winger arrived last night at San Pablo Airport and was present at the club’s facilities today. However, he did not train on the pitch with his teammates and instead focused on gym work. This decision by the coaching staff mirrors the approach taken when Bakambu returned from the African tournament, suggesting that Abde may not be included in the squad for tomorrow’s trip to Greece.

With the return of the international player and the confirmation of Amrabat’s injury, which will necessitate surgery later this week, coach Pellegrini can plan more effectively for the upcoming matches. However, he will also be without the injured Isco Alarcón, Héctor Bellerín, Junior Firpo, and Cucho Hernández. Additionally, today’s training session saw the absence of Antony due to pubic discomfort, raising doubts about his availability for Thursday’s match, as well as Rodrigo Riquelme.

To address the numerous injuries, Pellegrini has turned to the club’s youth academy, incorporating players like Corralejo, Dani Pérez, Morante, and Rodrigo Marina into first-team training. Furthermore, the coaching staff will be without Congolese player Cédric Bakambu for the upcoming match against PAOK, as he received his third yellow card of the season during the visit to Dinamo Zagreb in December, resulting in a suspension due to accumulated cautions.