Real Betis Balompié CEO Ramón Alarcón has assessed the draw for the 2026-27 Champions League league phase, describing it as both tough and beautiful. The verdiblancos will face eight elite opponents, including Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund, in a historic return to Europe's top club competition.
Alarcón attended the draw ceremony in Monaco and gave his initial thoughts to the press. "We go with respect but no fear," the CEO stated. "People are going to get to know Betis better in Europe. Betis will stand up, compete and enjoy it".
A dream calendar
The Betis executive highlighted the chance to play away at "two temples" of European football, referring to Bayern's Allianz Arena and Dortmund's Signal Iduna Park. Manuel Pellegrini's side will also face the Premier League champion, plus Porto, Feyenoord, and Como. The latter fixture promises reunions, as the Italian club features former Betis players Jesús Rodríguez and Assane Diao.
Alarcón expressed full confidence in the supporters' response, both at the Benito Villamarín and on the road. "We are going to be able to compete, the fans will respond at home and also away," he added. The club hopes these matches will help project Betis's image across the continent. The specific kick-off times for the eight matchdays in this new league phase will be confirmed in the coming days.
Returning to the Champions League represents the culmination of a sporting project that has grown season by season. The team, currently in a mid-table position in LaLiga, now focuses on the dual domestic and European challenge. Fans can check the full schedule of fixtures on our fixtures page and the squad status in the squad section.
The first official home match of the season at the Benito Villamarín is this coming Saturday, kicking off an exciting new chapter for the Heliopolitan club.
