Real Betis Balompié discovered their demanding path in the Champions League following the draw held this Thursday. The Verdiblancos return to the top continental competition after over two decades and will do so in a group of enormous caliber with Premier League champion Arsenal and Bundesliga champion Bayern Munich.
Manuel Pellegrini's side, who sit fourth in La Liga with six points from two wins, will also face Porto, Feyenoord, Lille, Slovan Bratislava, and Como in the group stage. The club's stated objective is to advance past this round for the first time in their history. Home matches will be played at the La Cartuja stadium in Seville.
Which opponents will Betis face?
Champions League Group H presents a monumental challenge. Arsenal, managed by Mikel Arteta, and Bayern Munich, with Vincent Kompany on the bench, are the top seeds. Betis already faced Feyenoord in a pre-season friendly, a match they won 1-3 although without most of their World Cup participants. Another interesting rival is Serie A's Como, coached by Cesc Fábregas and featuring former Betis players Jesús Rodríguez and Assane Diao, plus Spanish midfielder Luis Milla, who was once on the Sevillian club's transfer shortlist.
Away trips will take them to iconic venues like London's Emirates Stadium, Munich's Allianz Arena, and Dortmund's Signal Iduna Park, where Marc Bartra will return to a familiar stage. Héctor Bellerín, meanwhile, will reunite with his former club, Arsenal. Getting points from the visit to Bayern seems a very difficult task on paper, although significant away support is expected in Germany.
How is the team shaping up for this challenge?
Betis approaches this historic challenge on a positive note domestically. The team is on a good run, with two wins from their first two league games, scoring two goals and conceding none. This Saturday, August 29th, they have an important fixture away to 17th-placed Levante, a match that can serve as preparation for the European adventure. The current squad and its performance can be checked on our team page.
A club representative expressed confidence after the draw: "Este equipo está preparado para enfrentarse a cualquiera." The general feeling is that while the group is very demanding, they avoided a theoretically tougher third pot with teams like Napoli or RB Leipzig, and that the atmosphere at La Cartuja must play a key role.
What is the context of the European return?
This return to the Champions League marks a milestone for Real Betis Balompié. The last time the club participated in Europe's top competition was over 20 years ago. Now, with Pellegrini at the helm, they aim to write a new chapter. The squad blends experience and youth, and will have to balance the demanding European schedule with the fight for high positions in La Liga, where they currently feature in the standings.
The journey begins soon and every point will be vital. The club is clear that the fans' excitement is an extra engine. With an eye on the match against Levante and the start of the Champions League, Betis wants to prove they belong among the best.
