Manuel Pellegrini repeats the formula from the first friendly and places Colombian Nelson Deossa as the spearhead in the Trofeo Colombino against Recreativo de Huelva. The match, with several changes in the lineup, takes place this Wednesday at 20:30 hours.
Real Betis plays its second friendly of the pre-season this Wednesday, and Manuel Pellegrini has surprised again with the lineup. The Chilean coach has confirmed that Nelson Deossa will repeat as centre-forward, a position he already occupied in the first summer test and which generates excitement among the green-and-white fans.
The match, part of the Trofeo Colombino, pits Betis against Recreativo de Huelva at the Nuevo Colombino stadium starting at 20:30 hours. The Seville team is looking to win its sixth title in this tournament, which would allow it to equal Atlético de Madrid as the second club with the most trophies, only behind Barcelona.
The lineup features several changes compared to the first friendly. Notable inclusions are Manu González and Morante, who join the first team dynamics after being crowned U-19 European champions. Diego Conde, the third signing of the summer, also enters the starting eleven, looking to secure a place in the green-and-white goal.
The starting eleven consists of: Álvaro Valles in goal; Bellerín, Bartra, Natan, and Junior Firpo in defence; Facundo Bernal, Marc Roca, and Fornals in midfield; and Pablo García, Riquelme, and Deossa in attack. The most notable absence is Isco Alarcón, who has not travelled to Huelva as a precaution, according to club sources, to avoid risks in pre-season.
The choice of Deossa as '9' is one of the most discussed tactical decisions. The Colombian, who arrived in the winter transfer market, is not a natural centre-forward, but Pellegrini values his work rate and mobility to create spaces. In the first friendly, Deossa already played in that position and left a good impression, although without scoring.
For Betis, the Trofeo Colombino is not just a friendly. The green-and-white club has a historical relationship with this tournament, which has been held since 1953, and adding a new title would boost the team's confidence ahead of the league start. Additionally, the match serves as a test to gauge the players' fitness ahead of the demanding calendar ahead.
Recreativo de Huelva, for its part, approaches the match with the hope of performing well against a top-flight team. The Huelva side, which plays in the Primera Federación, seeks to take advantage of the Colombino showcase to demonstrate its potential and surprise its fans.
The match will be broadcast live, and a notable presence of Betis fans is expected in the stands of the Nuevo Colombino, who will support their team in this second pre-season test. The encounter, at 20:30 hours, promises excitement and will help fine-tune Pellegrini's squad.
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