Betis learned to win from the hand of Pellegrini and today they want to fulfill the predictions before the visit of Ferencvaros in the penultimate date of this group stage of the Europa League (follow the game live on As.com). The need is as propitious as it is imperative: a triumph for the Verdiblancos and a defeat for Celtic against Bayer Leverkusen would ensure the second place for the Heliopolitan team in the absence of a matchday. Perhaps it is not the great dream desired. But it is the most viable after the debacle suffered in Germany that launched that first position almost to utopia.
The express win in Elche gave wings to the hope of the team after the break and the doubts that appeared in that week of terror (three defeats and a 0-9 goalscoring balance) evaporate. Calm returns to Heliopolis. Also rotations. The one who will not be on the pitch will be Nabil Fekir, sanctioned with three games for his attack on Demirbay. Who plays Fekir? You must ask Pellegrini. Also a beticismo that crosses the fingers not to have to risk its life in Glasgow next December.
Betis will revolutionize their eleven again, as they did throughout the course. It almost always worked. Although the rest shift seems simpler and less indecipherable this time. Some will do it in a compulsory way, such as Fekir or the Rodri, Carvalho, Montoya and Pezzella headdresses. Bellerín will repeat in the right-handed lane while Bravo wants to take over from Rui Silva in goal. Is the good performance of the Portuguese in Elche enough to break this planned rotation? Turn for Bartra in the rear, for Guido as a closing and for Borja Iglesias at the top. From there, the companions have names hidden in a wide deck in which Joaquín wants his fifth consecutive title in this Europa League. The portuense, with his retreat around the corner, can play Fekir or emulate his best version in the extreme.
For Ferencvaros, there is more economy and pride at stake than anything else. He still does not add to the competition and he will be brave in Seville. The Mmaee brothers reign in defense and attack, the Albanian Uzuni already scared in the first leg and the collective claw will want to make an appearance to show that their dominance in Hungary is not a coincidence. Peter Stöger, the manager who made his mark at Dortmund, wants a final word. Betis only intends that the points do not fly while looking askance at a Leverkusen disguised as an ally and an enemy at the same time. Will there be a final chapter on the last day?