Real Betis Balompié take on Lille this Tuesday at 21:00 in their first Champions League match in 21 years, a European return that follows a league win over Real Madrid.
The Andalusian side head into the fixture with far different momentum than Villarreal, who also make their continental bow this week but arrive off a troubled start to the domestic season, as the Spanish outlet reports.
Real Betis face Lille at 21:00 in matchday one of the league phase. Davide Ancelotti manages the French club, who are expected to start Ethan Mbappé and Olivier Giroud.
Real Betis go into the match on a high after beating Real Madrid in La Liga just days before their European return. Villarreal, by contrast, have not won a single league game this season and sit on just two points, with Juan Foyth and Carlos Romero both sidelined, La Vanguardia Deportes reports.
Villarreal, managed by Iñigo Pérez, take on Borussia Dortmund at 21:00, the same side that beat them 4-0 in last season's Champions League. La Vanguardia Deportes notes that thrashing closed out Villarreal's previous European campaign.
Real Betis currently sit fourth in La Liga with 9 points from four games, having won three and lost one, with a recent form run of WLWW. The league schedule pits the Verdiblancos against Villarreal on 14 September, away from home, against a side currently 17th in the table. The two sides last met on 17 January 2026, when Real Betis won 2-0. Aitor Ruibal remains sidelined and is not expected to feature in the coming weeks.
Fans can check the matchday squad news on the squad page, the full run of upcoming fixtures on the fixtures page, and the wider table, with Real Betis three points behind leaders Barcelona, on the standings page.
