Antony and Cucho doubts for Real Betis at Villarreal

Antony and Cucho Hernández, two pieces of the Real Betis attack, did not train with the rest of the group on Friday at the Ciudad Deportiva Luis del Sol, three days before facing Villarreal away (a 2-0 win for Betis in the last meeting, back in January 2026).

Antony was absent through an illness, while Cucho Hernández carried out specific work inside the facilities, according to Jordi Santamaría writing for Mundo Deportivo: "Antony and Cucho Hernández have not trained with the rest of their Real Betis first-team teammates this Friday." The club expects both to be available for Monday's starting line-up.

Diego Llorente, who fractured the bones in his nose against Real Madrid last Friday, already trained wearing a personalised mask. Dani Ceballos, Lo Celso and Ez Abde trained normally, and Aitor Ruibal remains the only confirmed absence, leaving Manuel Pellegrini with 26 available players.

Real Betis sit fifth in La Liga on 9 points from a possible 12 after four matches, three points behind leaders Barcelona, and go into the game on a two-match winning run visible on the standings page. Villarreal, 17th in the table, host a Betis side that beat them 2-0 in the reverse fixture. That match opens a week with three games in total, the first of which appears on the fixtures page.