Synopsis
Betis faces a major hurdle with defender Diego Llorente set to undergo surgery for a hamstring injury, ruling him out for the remainder of the season. This setback complicates the club's ambitions for Champions League qualification.Key Takeaways
- Diego Llorente will have surgery on his hamstring injury.
- He is expected to miss the remainder of the season.
- Betis is currently sixth in La Liga.
- The club aims for Champions League qualification.
- Next match is against Jagiellonia Bialystok.
Madrid, April 15 (NationPress) Betis has encountered a significant challenge as it has been confirmed that central defender Diego Llorente requires surgery, which will result in him being unavailable for the remainder of the season.
Llorente sustained an injury during the first half of Betis' 2-1 loss to Villarreal last Sunday, leaving the club in sixth place in La Liga and facing a tough path to secure a spot in next season's Champions League, as reported by Xinhua.
According to the Betis website, “After conducting tests on Diego Llorente, it has been confirmed that he has an advanced proximal tendon injury in his left hamstring.” The statement further mentions that Llorente will “undergo surgery in Finland performed by Dr. Lempainen and will be accompanied at all times by the club's medical staff.”
While the club has not specified the duration of Llorente's absence, it is clear that he will not return before the season concludes, depriving coach Manuel Pellegrini of an essential player.
This season, Llorente has participated in 30 out of Betis' 31 La Liga matches and in six UEFA Conference League games, playing more minutes than any other player in the squad.
Betis will next compete in the Conference League on Thursday, aiming to maintain a 2-0 lead from the first leg of the quarter-finals against Polish team, Jagiellonia Bialystok.
Currently positioned sixth in the La Liga standings, Betis hopes to surpass Athletic Club and Villarreal, who are in fourth and fifth places, respectively, with seven matches remaining in the domestic season. If La Liga receives an additional UCL spot, following England's allocation, Betis’ chances for qualification would be enhanced.
Following their Conference League encounter, Betis will head to Estadi Montilivi to compete against Girona on April 22.
