While the duel against Barcelona was already reaching its final minutes, the Bétis suffered another setback with another injury Firpo junior. A muscular problem which once again penalizes the Spanish-Dominican full-back, who was only playing his second match after his convalescence. … of his previous illness. A defeat which will also generate an additional problem for Manuel Pellegrini, in the short term, since it will leave him without specific full-backs for Thursday’s duel in the Europa League against Dinamo Zagreb.
“We have to wait for the medical examinations, but it’s a muscle injury,” said the Chilean coach after the duel against Barcelona, also adding that, presumably, Junior will no longer be able to play in 2025. Added to the defeat of the Hispano-Dominican is the fact that Ricardo Rodríguez will also not be able to play on Thursday due to suspension, after Utrecht has already received the third yellow card of the European competition after wasting time on a throw-in.
The natural replacement would be Valentin Gómezthe footballer signed as a central defender but who, in recent matches, played the role of starting left-back. The Argentine, although he did not have a good performance against Barcelona, is flourishing in this new position to which Pellegrini was forced to adapt him, so everything indicates that he will repeat in the Europa League.
This situation will lead to a change of plans for the Chileanwho had planned to place Valentín as Diego Llorente’s partner so that Bartra and Natan, who accumulate many minutes, could rest. With the Argentinian as left back, the Catalan or the Brazilian will have to repeat in the eleven, a choice that will depend on the physical condition of both.
Junior problems
Junior Firpo unlucky on Betis return. If the pre-season has already started later due to contractual problems, the left-hander has not achieved the consistency hoped for. With his signing, the sports area of the club signed a side with the titular title, after looking for an exit door for the Frenchman Romain Perraud, transferred to Lille, and Ricardo Rodríguez was on the exit ramp until the last days of the market.
It was difficult for him to start Junior, who alternated with the Swiss in the first days, until a muscle injury after the match against Atlético de Madrid He left him on the sidelines of the team. “Junior Firpo suffers from an injury to the proximal third of the right hamstring,” then announced the green and white club, who lost his left foot in the matches against Mallorca and Valencia in La Liga and against Lyon in the Europa League, in addition to having missed his debut in the Cup against Atlético Palma del Río.
During this timeout, Pellegrini called on Valentín Gómez on the wing, increasing competition on the left side of the defense. After recovering from his injury, It was difficult for Junior to get minutes until the second half of the duel against Torrentcorresponding to the second round of the Copa del Rey. In this match, the winger ended up adding an assist to Ángel Ortiz. This Saturday, taking advantage of the fact that the duel was played in favor of Barcelona, Pellegrini chose to give him minutes in the second half, when he came in place of Natan so that Valentín Gómez could move to the left center position. Eventually, a muscle problem left him lying on the grass and requiring a change. A new injury that slows down his fitness and creates more problems for Pellegrini on this left side that Betis have not yet fully established.
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