Abde Ezzalzouli Left Out of Betis Champions League Squad

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

The Morocco international has been left out of Real Betis’s squad for their UEFA Champions League league-phase opener against Lille, with Manuel Pellegrini deciding not to include the winger in his travelling group for Tuesday night’s clash in France.

The list, announced on Sunday, underlined the strength of Pellegrini’s options. Isco, Giovani Lo Celso, Antony and Dani Ceballos all made the cut as Betis prepare for their first outing in the revamped competition. Ezzalzouli did not.

For the 22-year-old, it’s another untimely blow.

He had already missed Betis’s previous match, a high-profile league meeting with Real Madrid, after being hit by a viral infection. That absence came just as he seemed to be turning a corner physically, having recently shaken off earlier fitness problems.

The winger had managed to get back on the pitch in the last round against Levante, logging a few minutes and hinting at a return to rhythm. Then the illness struck, and with it went his chance to build momentum and stake a claim in Pellegrini’s European plans.

Now, as Betis step onto the Champions League stage with their main attacking names available, Ezzalzouli is forced to watch from the outside again, fighting a different kind of battle: recovery, sharpness, relevance.

His objective is clear. Shake off the infection, regain full fitness, and push his way back into contention as quickly as possible. With Betis juggling domestic duties and the demands of European competition, the door will open for those ready to seize it.

Ezzalzouli knows he cannot afford to be a spectator for long.