Real Betis Balompié has closed its squad for the season. The executive stated the club does not anticipate further moves in the winter transfer window following a planning phase he deemed successful.
The Verdiblancos return to the Champions League after 21 years and face their group stage debut against Lille on Tuesday. This milestone comes with the morale boost of a victory over Real Madrid last weekend, which left Betis in a solid fourth place in La Liga with nine points from a possible twelve. Their current record is three wins and one loss, with five goals scored and five conceded, sitting three points behind leaders Barcelona.
What did López Catalán say about the market?
José Miguel López Catalán was clear about the squad's situation. "We have done good planning," stated the vice-president. He explained the club has covered the specific needs they had identified, bringing in a left-back, a central midfielder, and a centre-forward. He also highlighted the arrivals of Dani Ceballos and Facundo Bernal. With these operations, he considers the squad managed by Manuel Pellegrini to be complete and expects no signings in January.
The executive was particularly pleased with the addition of Dani Ceballos. He stressed the player is very important for the project and that his integration will be positive, although he needs match fitness. He also valued the arrivals of Facundo Bernal and Sofyan Amrabat, completing a group that aims to be competitive on two fronts: La Liga and Europe's top competition.
What is the current state of the team?
Real Betis begins their Champions League campaign in good form, reflected in their recent win over Madrid. However, the team has some significant absences for the match in France. According to verified data as of September 7th, Abdessamad Ezzalzouli, Aitor Ruibal, and Diego Llorente are injured. Their absence will test the squad's depth during a key part of the schedule.
After the match in Lille, Betis will refocus on La Liga. Their next commitment is a visit to Villarreal, currently sixteenth in the table, on September 14th. Fans can check the full schedule on the club's fixtures page.
How does the vice-president rate the season's start?
López Catalán gave a very positive assessment of the opening matches. "Starting the season well is very important. Often, for some reason, it doesn't happen. This year we have started very well." he said. Regarding the win over Real Madrid, he added: "Friday's victory was very important for morale, for everyone. I also believe it was very deserved."
Despite the euphoria, the executive called for perspective. "We are very satisfied but it counts for nothing. The important thing is tomorrow's match," he emphasised, referring to the Champions League clash. This mindset reflects the club's ambition to consolidate its performance across all competitions. The squad's evolution and individual statistics can be followed in the stats section.
With the squad closed and a promising start, Real Betis Balompié faces a historic week. Their next official match is on Sunday, September 14th against Villarreal at the Estadio de la Cerámica.
