Mexican midfielder Álvaro Fidalgo has not played a single minute in Real Betis Balompié's perfect start to the LaLiga season. Manager Manuel Pellegrini's team has two wins from two matches, sitting second in the table with six points and a goal difference of +2, but the player remains on the outside.
Fidalgo's absence is a technical decision by the coaching staff. The player, who joined the club in February from Club América, was on the bench for both the 1-0 win at Valencia's Mestalla on Tuesday and the same-score victory over Real Sociedad at La Cartuja. Rodrigo Riquelme Reche and Pablo García scored the decisive goals.
Álvaro Fidalgo's situation raises questions following his participation in the 2026 World Cup with Mexico. Upon his return, he missed the first six pre-season friendlies. He only played 46 minutes in the 2-2 draw against Bournemouth on August 8 and was not called up for the match against Inter Milan. Although named in the squad for the Matchday 2 fixture, Pellegrini chose not to use him.
His irregular involvement is not new. In the final ten matchdays of the 2025-26 LaLiga season, Fidalgo featured in just three games. However, he had a more prominent role in the Europa League, starting both quarter-final matches before Betis were eliminated. Since his transfer, he has made 13 appearances totaling 749 minutes, with one key goal scored in the Gran Derbi against Sevilla.
The context of Betis's season start
Real Betis has begun the 2026-27 campaign with defensive solidity and efficiency. The two 1-0 wins place them second, behind only Sevilla, while Real Madrid and Barcelona have their first matchday game in hand. This performance firmly plants the team in the upper reaches of the LaLiga standings.
The next challenge is an away trip to face Levante at the Estadio Ciudad de Valencia this Saturday, August 29. The granota side, currently 17th in the table, lost their first match 3-0 to Espanyol and drew 0-0 with Osasuna. Betis will look to maintain their positive run.
With competition in midfield, it seems difficult for Álvaro Fidalgo to immediately regain a starting spot. His adaptation post-World Cup and the consistency shown by other options in the squad have limited his opportunities. His performances became irregular after the March international break, a factor that appears to weigh on the manager's decisions.
The player will need to work to regain trust in a team that is moving forward confidently. The upcoming run of matches, including the clash with Levante, will be key to assessing whether he can reintegrate into the competitive dynamic. Fans can check the squad composition to follow this situation in the coming weeks.
