Abdessamad Ezzalzouli is not fully fit due to a knee problem, Betis coach Manuel Pellegrini said ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League trip to Lille.
The Moroccan winger had been expected to make his Champions League debut with Betis after playing a key role in the club’s return to the competition last season. He will now have to wait.
Speaking at a press conference ahead of the opening Champions League match on Tuesday, September 8, Pellegrini said Ezzalzouli “is not 100%. He has a complex knee injury that is causing him a lot of discomfort,” while expressing hope that the player will return soon.
Ezzalzouli had also been ruled out of last Friday’s match against Real Madrid (1-0) because of a “viral infection,” according to the Chilean coach.
There is currently no indication that the problem will keep Ezzalzouli out for several months, but he is unlikely to be ready to return to action in the coming days.
Abdessamad Ezzalzouli y Manuel Pellegrini
The knee issue is particularly concerning given his previous injury in the same area. Last June, Ezzalzouli suffered a knee injury in Morocco’s final friendly before the 2026 World Cup, ruling him out of the tournament, which Morocco eventually finished in the quarterfinals.
The timing could also affect his chances of being called up by Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi for the next two 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. The Atlas Lions are due to face Gabon in Rabat on September 25 before taking on Lesotho in South Africa on September 29.
His condition will therefore be monitored over the coming days. Ezzalzouli’s Champions League debut, which would have carried added significance after his contribution to Betis’ return to the competition, will have to wait.
