Betis and Getafe Face Off in La Cartuja Amid Injuries, Doubts, and European Hopes
So here’s what’s happening with Real Betis right now, as LaLiga’s matchday 17 wraps up with a tense showdown against Getafe at La Cartuja. This game isn’t just another fixture before the holidays. It’s being treated as a chance for both teams to close out 2025 with momentum and, quietly, to keep their European dreams alive.
For Betis, the buildup has been far from smooth. Several key absences are shaping the story before a ball is even kicked. Isco Alarcón remains sidelined, and his injury has become more complicated than first expected, effectively ruling him out not only for this match but also for the start of 2026. Alongside him, Junior Firpo and Diego Llorente are unavailable, while Amrabat, Ez Abde, and Bakambu are away at the Africa Cup of Nations. Because of that, Manuel Pellegrini has once again been forced to reshuffle and lean on solutions rather than ideal choices.
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One of the most talked-about decisions is Giovani Lo Celso’s situation. For the eighth straight game, he starts on the bench. A player once seen as the creative heartbeat of this side has now become a secondary option, and that shift hasn’t gone unnoticed. Pellegrini, however, appears committed to a more balanced midfield, with Marc Roca continuing as a fixed presence, partnered by Deossa, while Fornals is given freedom to roam and connect play.
At the back, Álvaro Valles is trusted in goal, with Bartra and Natan forming the central defensive pair. The full-back roles are handled by Ricardo Rodríguez and Ángel Ortiz, who has benefited from Aitor Ruibal’s new role higher up the pitch. In attack, much of the spark is expected to come from Antony, whose flair and directness are being relied upon to break lines and unsettle Getafe’s defense. Ruibal and Cucho Hernández complete a front three that’s built more on work rate and movement than pure star power.
Getafe, on the other hand, arrive with fewer surprises but just as much ambition. José Bordalás is missing a few players himself, including Abqar, Coba, and Abu Kamara, yet his lineup reflects a team ready to compete with intensity. David Soria starts in goal, with Djené leading the defense, and Luis Milla once again acting as the engine in midfield. His influence has been crucial this season, and without him, Getafe often look incomplete.
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