Real Betis Balompié face their third LaLiga match this Saturday at the Ciutat de València with the chance to maintain their flawless start to the season. Manuel Pellegrini's team arrives for the clash against Levante with six points from six after winning their first two fixtures.
The match is scheduled for 5:00 PM, a kick-off time Pellegrini has questioned due to the high temperatures and potential physical toll on his players. The Chilean coach is considering several changes to his starting eleven, with Abde Ezzalzouli returning to the squad after overcoming knee issues, though his involvement will be limited.
Manuel Pellegrini has several selection dilemmas for the game against Levante. In defence, Héctor Bellerín, Marc Bartra and Fran García are options to return to the starting lineup, while Marc Roca could reclaim his place in central midfield. The main question mark is up front, where Irish striker Troy Parrott, after his good cameo against Valencia, threatens the starting spot of Cucho Hernández. "The discomfort in his knee held him back from participating so far," Pellegrini stated about Roca.
Betis face the match with several important absences. Giovani Lo Celso will not be available, with Pellegrini making it clear that "it's difficult for him to be ready in less than 15 days," nor will Junior Firpo, Aitor Ruibal, Diego Conde, Gonzalo Petit or Morante. The verdiblanco squad, according to our updated data on the injuries page, has a total of six players on the casualty list, posing a challenge for the team's rotation.
Levante, managed by Portuguese coach Luís Castro, has shown two different faces in their first two matches. They were fragile against Espanyol but much more solid against Osasuna. Castro praised the opponent, describing Betis as "one of the best teams in LaLiga individually and collectively" and highlighting their ability to punish the opposition even when they seem controlled. The granota team returns to the support of their home fans, where last season they managed a 2-2 draw against Betis.
The season's context is demanding for Betis, who already know their opponents in the Champions League league phase. They will face Arsenal and Porto at La Cartuja and travel to Munich and Dortmund. This European calendar is a stimulus for the dressing room, although Pellegrini wants to keep the focus on a League that "grants no truces" and is the competition that offers the chance to return to Europe.
A victory this Saturday would allow Real Betis Balompié to finish August with nine points from nine, confirming their excellent league start. The team has demonstrated great patience and efficiency in their opening matches, waiting for their moment to strike. They do not need to dominate every facet of the game to prevail.
This strong start places Betis, according to our standings page, high up in the table, level on points with Barcelona, Real Madrid and Sevilla. The club's sporting direction continues to work on adjusting the squad, seeking reinforcements with specific profiles like a positional defensive midfielder, while trying to move some players on.
