Real Betis Balompié is focusing on its next match against Real Madrid after a defeat that has set the tone for the week. The Verdiblanco side, sixth in LaLiga with 6 points, trained on Monday with several departures looming and the name Dani Ceballos on the horizon.
Manuel Pellegrini held a long talk with his players after the embarrassing 5-2 defeat last Saturday at Levante's ground. The setback came after a perfect start to the season with two 1-0 wins against Real Sociedad and Valencia, leaving Betis with a record of 4 goals scored and 5 conceded. The focus now shifts to Friday's visitor, league leaders Real Madrid, whom Betis trail by three points.
Which players could leave the club this week?
Monday's training session also served to assess the transfer market. Iker Losada, Pablo García, Nelson Deossa, Álvaro Fidalgo, Gonzalo Petit, and Junior are candidates to leave the club before the deadline closes. Junior, in fact, traveled to the Dominican Republic on Friday for his grandfather's funeral and is expected back within hours. His situation, like the others, is under discussion. The potential departure of any of these players, especially a defensive midfielder, could trigger the search for a reinforcement in that position, as Pellegrini himself indicated.
Which reinforcement is the sporting direction targeting?
The main and confirmed target for the sporting direction is Dani Ceballos. The midfielder, with a past at the club, appears as the priority signing to strengthen the center of the park. His arrival will depend on the evolution of outgoings and the complex negotiation with his current team. While these moves are finalized, the squad must deal with an injury list that includes Aitor Ruibal, Diego Conde, Giovani Lo Celso, and Gonzalo Petit, the latter missing training due to injury. The full squad status can be checked on our injuries page.
How is Betis approaching a decisive week?
The schedule offers no respite. After hosting Real Madrid this Friday at the Benito Villamarín, Real Betis will make its Champions League debut on Tuesday with a visit to Lille. These are two major tests that will define the tone for September. To prepare for them, Pellegrini had Losada, Pablo García, Deossa, Fidalgo, Lo Celso, Ruibal, Conde, and Junior in training, along with the regulars. The squad knows an immediate reaction is needed after the stumble in Valencia.
The coming week will be a thorough examination of the project's aspirations. With the market still open, the squad could see changes in the coming days. All this while trying to correct the sporting course in two elite competitions. Fans can follow the league table on our standings page and plan their schedule with the fixtures calendar. The team starts from a position of strength in the league, but the gap to the leader makes Friday's clash a match of significant importance.
