Real Betis head into their long-awaited return to the Champions League with a testing league-phase fixture list, drawing high-profile matches against European heavyweights alongside tricky away trips across the continent, according to club technical secretary Álvaro Ladrón de Guevara.
The Champions League League Phase Draw
The draw, conducted in Monaco, mapped out the eight opponents for Manuel Pellegrini’s squad in Europe’s premier club competition. Real Betis will host Arsenal, Feyenoord, Porto, and Como at Estadio de La Cartuja in Seville. Meanwhile, the verdiblancos face daunting away fixtures against Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Lille, and Slovan Bratislava.
Technical Secretary Reflects on the Draw
Speaking after the ceremony in Monaco, Ladrón de Guevara shared his initial reactions with club media outlets, highlighting the excitement rippling through the squad and the fan base after a multi-year absence from Europe’s top table.
Con la ilusión, por supuesto, de hacerlo muy bien».
Navigating Tough Opponents and Home Fortress Strategy
Addressing the caliber of the opposition, the technical secretary noted that every fixture carries distinct challenges, blending elite continental stalwarts with ambitious emerging sides. «Todos los partidos van a tener su dificultad», explained Ladrón de Guevara. «Evidentemente, hay clubes de muchísimo nivel, de primer nivel europeo. Otros, quizás, no tan acostumbrados a Champions, pero también buenos equipos, si están ahí es por algo».
Special Reunions and Familiar Faces
The fixture list also serves up emotional reunions for several figures within the Betis ecosystem. Matches against Como bring former youth talents Assane Diao and Jesús Rodríguez back into the club’s orbit, while defender Marc Bartra is set for a return to Germany to face Borussia Dortmund at the Signal Iduna Park. Additionally, connections span across to North London, where former Betis staff member Eneko works within Arsenal’s setup.
«Sí, va a ser especial el partido para muchos de nuestros jugadores», remarked Ladrón de Guevara regarding the reunions. «Exactamente, al final es bonito reencontrarse, ya no solo con jugadores. En Arsenal tenemos a Eneko, que ha estado con nosotros muchísimos años en el club.
Outlook and Competitive Mentality
Looking forward to the opening fixtures, the club’s management maintains absolute confidence in Pellegrini’s squad, predicting substantial traveling support from the fanbase for away matches across Europe.
Estoy seguro de que nos vamos a hacer muy fuertes en casa. Fuera vamos a tener desplazamientos béticos masivos, segurísimo».
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