Antony returns to the squad in training amid six absences

Real Betis returned to work on Thursday behind closed doors at the Ciudad Deportiva Luis del Sol, and the session brought a key update for Manuel Pellegrini ahead of a demanding weekend in LaLiga EA Sports: Antony is back training with the group.

The Brazilian winger had not been involved with the squad the previous day, instead following a more cautious plan, but he stepped back onto the pitch on Thursday and completed on field work with his teammates, putting himself back in contention for the trip to Mallorca.

Betis travel in just over 48 hours to face Jagoba Arrasate’s Mallorca at Son Moix in matchday 24, a fixture that tends to be physically intense and tactically tight. In that context, Antony’s availability is important, not only because of his individual quality, but because Betis have had to navigate recent weeks with a squad stretched by injuries and fitness concerns. Provided there are no setbacks in the final pre match sessions, the expectation is that the São Paulo born player will be included in the travelling party, even though he is still dealing with discomfort caused by pubalgia.

The club’s approach to Antony’s situation is being managed on a day by day basis and with considerable precision. The player himself has already spoken publicly about the pain he has been carrying this season, explaining how the pubic issue has affected him. Inside the coaching staff, and always under the supervision of the medical department, Betis are balancing two priorities that often pull in opposite directions: keeping a key starter available for matches while also reducing the risk of aggravating a problem that can become chronic if not handled carefully. That is why Antony’s week has combined specific gym work on some days and grass work on others, with training loads adjusted depending on how he responds.

From Pellegrini’s perspective, Antony remains a central figure in the starting XI when fit. The coach values his ability to provide width, beat defenders in one on one situations and create unpredictable moments in the final third, qualities that are especially valuable in away matches where Betis can struggle to find space. Even with the pubalgia issue, the Brazilian is viewed as an automatic selection, which makes the medical management even more significant: Betis need him available, but they also need him functioning at a level that justifies the physical risk of pushing through pain.

While Antony’s return is positive, the rest of the injury report paints a more complicated picture for the weekend. The clearest example is Cucho Hernández, who appears unlikely to have any realistic chance of forcing his way back into the starting XI, or even the matchday squad, in time for the Mallorca game. The Colombian was out on the pitch on Wednesday, but only for individual work, sharing that program with Chimy Ávila and Héctor Bellerín. The fact that none of the three joined the group on Thursday is a strong indicator that they are still short of the required rhythm and medical clearance to be involved in a competitive match.

Because of that, the clubs internal expectation is that Cucho, Chimy and Bellerín are more likely to be targeting next week’s fixture against Rayo Vallecano rather than Sunday’s visit to Son Moix. In practical terms, that means Pellegrini is preparing the Mallorca game without them, and it also affects squad composition. With senior options unavailable, the door stays open for younger players to remain around the first team. In this case, academy product Rodrigo Marina continues training in the senior environment and could realistically be called up again for the weekend, potentially repeating his place in the matchday group depending on how the final sessions go.

The short term absences are not the only headache. Betis are also still missing three players with longer term injuries: Giovani Lo Celso, Isco and Amrabat. Lo Celso and Isco remain in Seville, continuing their respective recovery processes at the club’s facilities, working with first team physiotherapists and performance staff. Their rehabilitation is ongoing and structured, but neither is expected to return in the immediate future, which removes experience, creativity and control from midfield areas.

Amrabat’s situation is even more clearly long term. The Moroccan is still in the Netherlands, where he is completing the first phase of his recovery after undergoing surgery. Only after that initial stage will he return to Seville to continue the next part of the rehabilitation plan. The timeline places him out for the coming weeks, meaning Pellegrini must keep reshuffling midfield options and managing minutes for the players who are available.

All of this shapes how Betis will approach the Mallorca match. If Antony is ready, he offers an immediate injection of attacking threat, but the team is still operating with limited depth in several positions, making match management crucial. Pellegrini will want to avoid unnecessary risks, especially if the game becomes physical or if the scoreline forces late changes. That is where the absences of players like Bellerín and Chimy can be felt: they are the kind of profiles that help coaches alter game states, protect leads, or raise the intensity from the bench.

For now, the headline remains Antony’s return to group training, a timely boost at a moment when Betis cannot afford many more problems. The next 48 hours will be decisive, as the staff monitor his response to training, confirm whether he can travel, and decide whether he is ready to start or needs to be introduced more cautiously. Either way, with multiple teammates still sidelined and several key names ruled out for weeks, every positive update counts for Betis as they try to stay competitive in the league run in.