Real Betis began preparations for Sunday’s La Liga match against Elche while still in Germany, holding a recovery session at Borussia Dortmund’s training facilities on Thursday morning. The squad utilized the site following their 2-1 defeat at Signal Iduna Park, a result that ended the team’s three-match winning streak in the Champions League, according to reporting by MundoBetis.
Training session in Dortmund before return to Seville
The coaching staff, led by Manuel Pellegrini, opted to conduct the post-match training in Germany before the team’s scheduled departure for Seville, with an expected arrival time around 4:00 p.m. local time. Pellegrini’s standard procedure involves a recovery session for starters in the city where the match took place, while players with limited or no minutes—including Isco, Aitor, and Morante—participated in a more intensive workout.
Medical reports indicate that the physical toll of the match against Borussia Dortmund was limited to minor bruises. Pellegrini expects to have his full squad available for the trip to the Martínez Valero stadium this Sunday, pending a final decision on Junior Firpo, who has been training with the team in recent days.
Hernández and Bernal miss Elche fixture ahead of training
The team faces two confirmed absences for the Elche encounter: Cucho Hernández remains sidelined due to injury, and Facundo Bernal is set to serve the third match of his current suspension. Following Thursday’s session, the squad is scheduled to resume training on Friday at the Ciudad Deportiva Luis del Sol to begin tactical preparations for the weekend.
Real Betis currently holds 23 points after eleven rounds of league play, maintaining a four-point cushion over Real Sociedad in the race for European qualification. A victory against Elche on Sunday would allow the team to enter the upcoming international break with a stable position in the Champions League qualification spots.
The club’s schedule remains dense through November. Following the league matches, Betis will play a rescheduled Copa del Rey tie against Navalcarnero on Thursday, November 12, at 7:00 p.m. CET. Upon the conclusion of the international break, the club faces a significant stretch, starting with the Seville derby against Sevilla FC at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán on Saturday, November 21, at 6:30 p.m. CET.
European campaign objectives
Beyond the domestic league, the team continues to manage its Champions League progression. Having secured nine points from a possible twelve, the squad is targeting a finish in the top 24 of the league phase. The club is scheduled to face Slovan Bratislava on November 24, followed by home matches against Como on December 9 and Arsenal on January 20, before closing the phase on January 27 against Bayern Munich in Germany.
Manuel Pellegrini is expected to hold a press conference on Saturday to discuss the team’s status and announce the official squad list for the match against Elche, which is slated to kick off at 2:00 p.m. CET on Sunday.
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