Abde Ezzalzouli Left Out of Betis Champions League Squad

Abde Ezzalzouli’s European season has stalled before it has even begun.

Real Betis coach Manuel Pellegrini has left the Morocco international out of his squad for Tuesday night’s UEFA Champions League clash with Lille, a fresh blow for the winger just as he was trying to relaunch his season.

Pellegrini announced his travelling group on Sunday for the opening game of the new league-phase format, and Ezzalzouli’s name was missing. The list instead leaned on the side’s established core: Isco, Giovani Lo Celso, Antony and Dani Ceballos all included as Betis look to make a strong start against the French side.

For Ezzalzouli, it is another frustrating twist.

He also sat out Betis’s last La Liga outing against Real Madrid, sidelined by a viral infection after only just working his way back from earlier physical problems. The winger had finally managed to get back on the pitch in the previous round, earning a few minutes against Levante and hinting at a gradual return to rhythm.

Then the illness struck and undid that momentum, costing him his place in the squad again at the very moment Betis step onto the European stage.

The timing could hardly be worse. With Betis juggling domestic demands and the intensity of the Champions League, opportunities will be there for those who are fit and sharp. Ezzalzouli’s task now is clear: recover fully, regain his edge, and convince Pellegrini he belongs back in this group as the European nights start to come thick and fast.