Isco Alarcón Makes Inspiring Return for Real Betis in Preseason Friendly

Real Betis midfielder Isco Alarcón made his long-awaited return to the pitch during the club’s fifth preseason friendly against Almería at the Municipal ‘Ciudad de La Línea’. According to club reports and match coverage, the playmaker stepped back onto the field to a strong ovation from traveling supporters, marking his first appearance for the verdiblanco first team since sustaining an injury in a competitive fixture against Levante UD.

A Warm Welcome at Municipal ‘Ciudad de La Línea’

During that final official outing against Levante UD, Isco logged 54 minutes before being forced to the sidelines.

Match reports from the fixture also highlighted the strong performance of the club’s academy prospects. The Betis youth products successfully navigated the contest against Almería, a side carrying the largest budget from the previous Segunda División 2025–26 campaign and narrowly missing out on automatic promotion to La Liga after falling to Málaga CF in the promotional playoff final.

Preseason Context and Preparation for Real Betis

Preseason friendlies serve as critical testing grounds for La Liga clubs aiming to balance squad depth with match fitness.

The fixture against Almería provided a demanding test against a resilient opponent that spent the prior season fighting at the pinnacle of Spain’s second tier. While Almería retained much of the financial backing that propelled them through the 2025–26 promotion race, the Betis youth contingent held firm before yielding the spotlight to Isco’s second-half introduction.

Next Steps on the Verdiblanco Calendar