The verdiblanco team faces Granada this Saturday at Los Cármenes in a pre-season friendly. Pellegrini's team arrives with several absences and with their sights set on the league start.
Real Betis Balompié will play the Trofeo Ciudad de Granada this Saturday, a classic of the pre-season that is being brought forward in the calendar this year. The verdiblanco team will face Granada CF at the Nuevo Los Cármenes stadium starting at 20:00, in a match that will serve as a test for both teams before the official competition begins.
The team coached by Manuel Pellegrini arrives at this fixture with several significant absences. Players like Nabil Fekir, who is still recovering from a knee injury, and William Carvalho, who has muscle discomfort, will not be available. Neither will new arrivals like Marc Roca or Héctor Bellerín, who have not yet received full medical clearance. The Chilean coach will take the opportunity to give minutes to the less regular players and to the youth players who have been training with the first team during pre-season.
On the other hand, Granada CF approaches the match in a context of institutional uncertainty. The red-and-white club is in the midst of a sale process that is pending judicial approval from Luxembourg. This situation has slowed down new signings, and so far only three reinforcements have arrived: goalkeeper Raúl Lizoain, forward Kader Bamba, and right-back Sergio López. Coach Pacheta has had to rely on the youth academy to complete the squads, and several young players like Gambín, Owen, or Chinaza have taken advantage of their minutes in previous friendlies.
Betis, for its part, has had a quieter pre-season in terms of movements. The verdiblanco board has managed to retain its key players and has brought in players like Roca and Bellerín to strengthen the midfield and right-back positions. However, the lack of minutes for these signings and the injuries to some starters mean that the team does not arrive in its best physical condition for this commitment.
The Trofeo Ciudad de Granada is a match with history, usually serving as a presentation for Granada in front of their fans. This year, however, the anticipation is lower due to the situation of the local club. For Betis, it is an opportunity to continue fine-tuning their preparations ahead of their league debut, scheduled for next week against Villarreal CF at the Benito Villamarín.
The match will also be a test for the verdiblanco defence, which has shown certain doubts in previous friendlies. Pellegrini has tried different central pairings, with Germán Pezzella and Marc Bartra as fixed, but the competition for a starting spot is open. In the left-back position, Juan Miranda and Abner Vinicius are competing for the starting role, while in midfield, Carvalho's absence may allow Guido Rodríguez or Andrés Guardado to step in.
In attack, Fekir's absence leaves a gap in playmaking, but players like Ayoze Pérez or Rodri Sánchez will try to assume that role. The centre-forward will likely be Borja Iglesias, who is looking to regain his best form after an irregular season. Granada, for its part, will try to leverage their home advantage and show a competitive image despite the limitations of their squad.
The match can be followed live through the official channels of both clubs. The Betis fans, who always respond in away games, hope to see an improvement in the team's performance compared to previous friendlies. The goal is to arrive at the start of LaLiga with the best possible guarantees.
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