Ez Abde's latest update: Betis believe they can get him back for Villarreal

Real Betis Balompié

Abde is carrying a physical situation that has caused some confusion over the past few days. Manuel Pellegrini acknowledged before the Champions League match that the player still was not at 100% after the problems he suffered with his knee, an area that continues to require caution after the injury that affected his preparation during the summer.

However, the knee would not have been the main reason for his two most recent absences. The Moroccan international also went through a viral process that left him weakened and subsequently has had to deal with some physical discomfort, so the coaching staff decided not to take any risks either against Real Madrid or in the Champions League opener against Lille.

Abde points to Villarreal

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In any case, the evolution is being positive. After the team returned from France and had a day off, Betis return this Thursday to training at the Luis del Sol Sports City to begin preparing for next Monday's match against Villarreal.

This session and the following ones will serve to definitively check the forward's status, but the current expectation is that Abde will be gradually brought into training and could make the squad to visit La Ceramica, as long as no setback appears over the next few days.

Therefore, as of today, it does not seem that we are dealing with a new long-term injury. At Heliopolis, they are managing with caution a player who comes from major knee problems and who, in addition, has recently had to overcome a viral process.

Will he be a starter against Villarreal?

A different question will be what role he will have in the match. Being available does not necessarily mean he will return straight into the starting XI, since he has had very little competitive continuity at the start of this season.

So far, Abde has only been able to play a few minutes in LaLiga, and Pellegrini could choose to introduce him progressively. Rodrigo Riquelme has built up prominence on the left wing during his absence, so the Thursday, Friday and weekend training sessions will need to be watched closely.

For fantasy managers, Abde's situation improves notably: unless he suffers a relapse or new discomfort, he should have options to return to the squad for the Villarreal match. His presence in the starting XI, however, remains more doubtful and will depend on how he responds physically during the next training sessions.