Seville’s La Cartuja is preparing for another heavyweight visitor as Real Betis welcome Feyenoord on Wednesday, with Manuel Pellegrini expected to reshape his side once more for a Champions League night carrying considerable value.
Key takeaways
- Betis can make it nine points from nine in the Champions League league phase with victory over Feyenoord.
- Pellegrini made eight alterations for the Barcelona match compared with the team used against Porto.
- Marc Bartra, Natan, Marc Roca, Isco and Antony are among the players pushing to return after missing the latest game.
- Ángel Ortiz and Troy Parrott could also come back into the starting XI.
- The result would strengthen Betis’ position in the battle to finish inside the top 24, with five matchdays still remaining.
Another night of rotation at La Cartuja
Feyenoord will be the third consecutive side arriving at La Cartuja as league leaders, following Porto and Barcelona, and Pellegrini appears ready to use the depth of his squad again rather than preserve the team that faced the Catalan club.
The Betis coach had already changed eight players between the Porto and Barcelona fixtures. A similarly extensive overhaul, potentially involving seven or eight changes, is under consideration for the Dutch visitors.
Bartra and Natan are candidates to form a refreshed central defensive partnership, while Marc Roca could return in midfield alongside Pablo Fornals. Antony and Isco are in contention to provide the attacking craft, having not taken part in the previous outing.
Ángel Ortiz may regain his place at right-back and Parrott is another possible starter up front. Abde, enjoying a particularly strong spell, has a chance to keep his position, as does Valentín Gómez.
Selection options and the European incentive
A possible Betis line-up would feature Valles in goal; Ángel Ortiz, Bartra, Natan and Valentín Gómez across the back; Marc Roca and Fornals in midfield; then Antony, Isco and Abde behind Parrott.
There remains another midfield option, with Bernal able to come in should Pellegrini decide to give Marc Roca a rest.
The Uruguayan in the squad is meanwhile awaiting the outcome of his dismissal against Barcelona. A sanction could rule him out of several domestic fixtures, including matches against Celta, Málaga and Elche.
For Betis, however, the immediate focus is continental. A third straight win would leave the Andalusian club on a perfect nine points and in a promising position before the final five rounds of the league phase.
