Betis Team News Page 12 - Soccer

German Pezzella - Inks new contract Pezzella has extended his stay with Betis, inking a two-year contract extension to remain with the club until 2026.

Impact Pezzella started his tenure with the club in 2015 and stayed with the club until the end of the 2016/17 season before returning in 2021 to now renew his tenure until 2026. The defender has played 169 matches with the club since joining and currently holds the captaincy of the squad this campaign. He has held a role in the starting XI over the past three seasons and should remain in that role while he is with the club, starting in all but one match in the 2023/24 camping.

FEBRUARY 13 • ROTOWIRE

Nabil Fekir - Four shots in win Fekir generated four shots (one on goal), three crosses (one accurate) and one corner in Friday's 2-0 win over Cadiz.

Impact Fekir produced an active performance that resulted in his taking four shots and winning one tackle for the second week running. He has missed numerous periods this season but has started three in a row as Betis deal with injuries to their attacking midfielders, opening up an opportunity for Fekir to earn more minutes with strong showings in attack.

FEBRUARY 11 • ROTOWIRE

Pablo Fornals - Makes first start for Betis Fornals scored one goal to go with one shot (one on goal), five crosses (three accurate) and two corners in Friday's 2-0 victory against Cadiz.

Impact Fornals played nearly the whole match after his 24-minute debut last time out against Getafe and he looked right at home in midfield, scoring with his only shot and creating four chances for teammates after never doing so more than once in a match for West Ham this season. He will look to keep it rolling when Betis host Deportivo Alaves next time out as he establishes himself in the starting XI.

FEBRUARY 11 • ROTOWIRE

Willian Jose - Massive effort against Cadiz Willian Jose scored one goal and assisted once from three shots and one chance created in Friday's 2-0 win over Cadiz.

Impact Willian Jose notched his first goal involvements in two months as he placed multiple shots on target for the third time this season. He also played his second highest minutes total (78) of the campaign which bodes well for his fortunes next week as he looks to build on this impressive performance.

FEBRUARY 11 • ROTOWIRE

Rui Silva - Keeps clean sheet Silva had five saves and allowed zero goals in Friday's 2-0 victory versus Cadiz.

Impact Silva kept his third shutout in his last six matches, with each of his three games with five or more saves this season resulting in clean sheets. Up next is a match against a Deportivo Alaves who have scored 24 goals in as many contests.

FEBRUARY 11 • ROTOWIRE

FORNALS ⚽ 🔙 #goal #realbetis

FEBRUARY 9 • YOUTUBE

Aitor Ruibal - Finds role on bench Ruibal (knee) is on the bench for Friday's contest against Cadiz.

Impact Ruibal is returning to play Friday following a three-match spell on the sidelines, and this was to be expected after the player trained for the past two weeks. He has served in more of a rotational role this season, so expect the defender to remain on the bench in most of the upcoming matches, getting starts here and there.

FEBRUARY 9 • ROTOWIRE

Claudio Bravo - Finds role on bench Bravo (hamstring) is on the bench for Friday's match against Cadiz.

Impact Bravo is finally making his long-awaited return, ending a 13-match stretch on the sidelines due to a hamstring issue. The question for the goalie from here on out will be if he gets back his starting role from Rui Silva, as Bravo took over the starting role once he was healthy to begin the season but quickly forfeited that after going down injured again. The two may switch off between matches in the future, or one may take over the full starting role, but only time can tell, so we won't quite know for another couple of contests.

FEBRUARY 9 • ROTOWIRE

Ezequiel Avila - Returns to bench Avila (calf) is on the bench for Friday's contest against Cadiz.

Impact Avila is ending a four-match spell on the sidelines, making the team sheet on Friday as he lines up on the bench. The forward will be happy to be back with the team and will hope to grab a start within the club's next couple of matches, as he has started in about half of the club's matches he has been available for this campaign, getting the nod in 10 of his 17 appearances.

FEBRUARY 9 • ROTOWIRE

Marc Roca - Starting Friday Roca (illness) is in the starting XI for Friday's match against Cadiz.

Impact Roca had previously missed the club's past two matches due to an illness but seemingly has put those concerns behind him, getting a spot in the starting XI against Cadiz. The midfielder should be expected to remain in this position moving forward, as he had started in all but two contests this season until his injury issues occurred.

FEBRUARY 9 • ROTOWIRE

William Carvalho - Plays nine minutes off bench Carvalho (hamstring) recorded eight minutes off the bench in Sunday's 1-1 tie against Getafe.

Impact Carvalho only appeared on the bench in Sunday's contest but was still able to find the field for nine minutes in the draw. This was his first match back on the field in three contests, finally recovering from a hamstring issue. The midfielder will most likely remain in a bench role moving forward, as he has served in more of a rotational role this campaign, only starting in six matches.

FEBRUARY 8 • ROTOWIRE

Youssouf Sabaly - Will miss another contest Sabaly (calf) is not available for Friday's contest against Cadiz, with manager Manuel Pellegrini telling reporters at his press conference, "Sabaly we look forward to his return t...

Impact Sabaly will continue on the sidelines for a further match, still having yet to recover from his calf issue. However, the defender should be an option next weekend to face Alaves on Feb. 18 based on their manager's quotes. This will be a huge addition back into the team once he does return, as the right-back has not played since the third match of the season after beginning the campaign as a regular starter.

FEBRUARY 8 • ROTOWIRE

Marc Roca - Available for Cadiz match Roca (illness) is an option for Friday's contest against Cadiz, as manager Manuel Pellegrini told reporters, "Marc Roca and Claudio Bravo will be on the list."

Impact Roca looks to be available for the club once again after missing their last two contest due to illness. The midfielder should be expected to get the start Friday now that he is healthy, as when he is an option, he has only missed out on two starts all season. We will look to work on his goal contribution count in the coming games, as he still only has four in league play despite appearing 20 times.

FEBRUARY 8 • ROTOWIRE

Ezequiel Avila - Could return Friday Avila (calf) may be an option for Friday's contest against Cadiz, as manager Manuel Pellegrini reported, "Chimy Avila is fine and will be part of the list," per InformaBetis.

Impact Avila is finally making a return to the squad list, earning the spot after four straight matches on the sidelines due to a calf issue. The forward most likely will return to the bench if picked to the team sheet Friday, as he has served in more of a rotational role this season. The club will just be happy to gain another player at full fitness, slowly dwindling their long injury list.

FEBRUARY 8 • ROTOWIRE

Ayoze Perez - Still not ready for play Perez (ankle) will continue on the sidelines, as manager Manuel Pellegrini reported, "Ayoze still has two or three weeks left," per InformaBetis.

Impact Perez won't be returning as soon as many thought, with the club's manager stating he has around another three weeks until he reaches full health despite being expected to be an option this weekend. The player will now miss his fourth straight contest and will hope this does not affect his starting spot, as he started in seven consecutive matches before the injury. At this point, expect the player to return by Mar. 3 to face Atletico Madrid, possibly even getting his chance a game earlier against Atheltic on Feb. 25.

FEBRUARY 8 • ROTOWIRE

Marc Bartra - Out once again Bartra (Achilles) is not an option for Friday's match against Cadiz, as manager Manuel Pellegrini told reporters, "Marc Bartra and Guido are waiting for you in at least two weeks,"...

Impact Bartra will still need a couple of weeks to recover despite being expected back at this point. The defender has yet to be announced to have taken place in any training sessions with the team and will hope to join them next week. Based on these reports, we should see Bartra return in about two weeks to face Athletic on Feb. 25.

FEBRUARY 8 • ROTOWIRE

Claudio Bravo - Involved in training again Bravo (hamstring) was viewed in training once again Thursday ahead of Friday's match against Cadiz.

Impact Bravo has now trained for the past two weeks and should be expected to make the team sheet Friday after getting a nod in the squad list. The goalie will hope to make his return after 13 matches on the sidelines due to the hamstring issue. If he is an option against Cadiz, expect him to possibly get the start and take over the role from Rui Silva, as when Bravo has been healthy this season, he usually gets the start between the sticks.

FEBRUARY 8 • ROTOWIRE

Guido Rodriguez - Returns to training Rodriguez (leg) was viewed in training Thursday ahead of the club's match against Cadiz on Friday.

Impact Rodriguez was back on the training pitch for the first time since picking up a leg injury in early December. However, the midfielder is most likely still quite a bit away from playing again, as he isn't expected back on the field until early March. At this point, he will just hope for no setbacks in his rehabilitation and to return to play within the club's next couple of matches, possibly against Atletico Madrid on March 3.

FEBRUARY 8 • ROTOWIRE

Portugal's Carvalho appears before Spanish judge to deny sexual assault allegation

Portugal midfielder William Carvalho has denied wrongdoing while appearing before a Spanish judge probing sexual assault allegations against him

FEBRUARY 6 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Youssouf Sabaly - Running on grass Sabaly was seen running on the grass while on international duty with Senegal.

Impact Sabaly linked up with the Senegalese national team for the AFCON Cup of Nations, however failed to make an appearance as he continues to work back from a calf injury. With Senegal eliminated from the tournament, he is set to return to Betis, where he continues his recovery.

FEBRUARY 6 • ROTOWIRE

Juan Miranda - Sends in three crosses Miranda registered three crosses (one accurate) and one chance created in Sunday's 1-1 draw against Getafe. In addition, he was given a yellow card in the 40th minute.

Impact Miranda earned his first appearance in four matches Sunday after healing from a calf issue, replacing Abner in the 13th minute after he left the match injured. Miranda's contribution didn't lead to a whole lot, notching a minimal one chance created, a tackle, two clearances and three crosses. The defender has served in more of a rotational role this season when healthy but may be heading toward a starting role after Abner went down against Betis.

FEBRUARY 5 • ROTOWIRE

Nabil Fekir - For shots against Getafe Fekir had four shots (one on goal), one cross (zero accurate) and one corner in Sunday's 1-1 draw versus Getafe.

Impact Fekir earned his second start in a row after another absence due to injury, registering one of his better matches of the year despite not scoring, firing in four shots, which is a match-high this season. Over those two starts, he has been decent, recording two chances created, three crosses and five shots to go along with an assist over that span. He will now hope to remain in this starting role, looking to avoid any more injuries after a challenging start to the season.

FEBRUARY 5 • ROTOWIRE

Rui Silva - Concedes once in draw Silva registered one save and allowed one goal in Sunday's 1-1 draw versus Getafe. In addition, he was given a yellow card in the 89th minute.

Impact Silva's day was not very busy Sunday, allowing one goal despite only facing two shots on net. This continues his trend over the past two matches of having quiet days in net, now only making one save in both matches, with the difference being that he registered a clean sheet in their previous contest. He will now look to pick up his seventh clean sheet in league play when facing Cadiz on Friday.

FEBRUARY 5 • ROTOWIRE

Abner Vinicius - Suffers injury Sunday Abner suffered a muscular injury in Sunday's draw against Getafe and left the game in the 12th minute.

Impact Abner committed a penalty and left the game injured early in the first half, so he had a game to forget Sunday. Muscular injuries are often tricky, and it wouldn't be surprising if he has to spend a few weeks on the sidelines. Juan Miranda is expected to be deputized at left-back with Abner out.

FEBRUARY 5 • ROTOWIRE

Isco - Set for extended absence Isco suffered a hamstring injury against Getafe on Sunday and is expected to be sidelined between six to eight weeks, Alvaro Borrego of El Desmarque reports.

Impact Betis have not announced a specific timeline for his recovery and further tests will be taken Monday to determine the extent of the problem, but Isco was spotted in tears after leaving the field in the second half of Sunday's match, and his agent said the timeline for the recover should hover around the two-month mark. Losing Isco would be a huge blow for Betis, and this could lead to a bigger role for Pablo Fornals, who made his club debut coming off the bench Sunday.

FEBRUARY 5 • ROTOWIRE

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Portugal's Carvalho appears before Spanish judge to deny sexual assault allegation