Real Betis faces a decisive week in which the absence of its Brazilian winger Antony becomes increasingly likely. After the 5‑2 victory over Osasuna, the player showed discomfort in his ankle, although he managed to complete more than twenty minutes of play. However, the match itself generated a new setback, because at the end of the match he sat down on the grass and several teammates came up to ask about his condition.
At the press conference, coach Manuel Pellegrini confirmed that he had noticed something in the player. “I was able to talk to him a little bit, but it seems like he had a little muscle discomfort; it's not about the ankle,” he explained. "Today we left him on the bench so he can have a few more days of ankle recovery. We will see tomorrow what it is." The coach stressed that the injury, if there is one, could prevent Antony from participating in the upcoming matches against Porto in the Champions League and against Barcelona in LaLiga.
Betis, which seeks to consolidate itself at the top of the table, will depend on Antony's availability to ensure its position at the exit of the relegation zone. The Brazilian winger's injury, although apparently minor, may have a greater impact due to the tight schedule of the season.
The club has already scheduled medical tests for Monday, hoping to determine if it is a minor injury or simply a scare. The final decision on his participation in next week's matches will be made once the results of the exams are known.
If the injury is confirmed, Betis will have to resort to its reserve squad and look for alternatives to cover the winger position. In any case, Antony's absence will be an additional challenge for Pellegrini's team, which already faces a load of high-level matches in the coming days.