Real Betis vs Real Sociedad

Real Betis face Real Sociedad in the second round of the 2026-27 La Liga season on Friday night, with the opening whistle set for 9:00 pm local time. Manuel Pellegrini's side kick off their home campaign eager to bounce back from a narrow pre-season defeat, while Real Sociedad arrive on the back of a Copa del Rey triumph and a summer of transition under Pellegrino Matarazzo.

Team News and Injury Latest

Real Betis are sweating on the fitness of right-back Héctor Bellerín. The former Arsenal man limped off with an ankle injury during a pre-season friendly against Inter Milan and is considered a major doubt for Friday. Goalkeeper Diego Conde is also sidelined after suffering a shoulder dislocation in a collision with teammate Diego Llorente, meaning Álvaro Valles is expected to start between the posts. Abde Ezzalzouli is in the final stages of his recovery from the injury that kept him out of the World Cup, though he missed the trip to Bari for the Inter friendly.

Real Sociedad are dealing with their own concerns. Mikel Oyarzabal and Pablo Marín have both returned to the pitch in pre-season but are still short of full match fitness. Gonçalo Guedes and Jon Gorrotxategi have been working individually to reach competitive rhythm, according to reports from 18 August, while Jon Pacheco remains outside full group training. Matarazzo will use the fixture at La Cartuja to assess who is ready for the starting eleven.

Real Betis Form Guide

Pellegrini’s preparations concluded with a 1-0 loss to Italian champions Inter Milan, a match overshadowed by Bellerín’s early exit. Earlier in pre-season, Betis drew 2-2 with AFC Bournemouth and edged Almería 1-0. Last season ended with a 2-1 home win over Valencia and a final-day starting XI that featured Isco, Antony, and Cucho Hernández. The Andalusians are entering their 61st La Liga campaign.

Real Sociedad Form Guide

Real Sociedad open their 80th La Liga season carrying the momentum of April's Copa del Rey success but with questions lingering from a mixed summer. Matarazzo's team were beaten 3-1 by Chelsea in their most recent outing and will be looking for a sharper defensive showing in Seville. The last meeting between these two sides finished 2-2, a result that hinted at how evenly matched they can be.

Key Battle: Isco vs Herrera

The creative burden for Betis will likely fall on Isco, whose ability to drift between the lines and unlock a defence remains among the best in the division. Opposite him, Yangel Herrera provides the steel and box-to-box energy in the Real Sociedad midfield. Whoever takes control of the central exchanges will dictate the tempo at La Cartuja.

Real Betis return to action just days after this match, travelling to face Valencia at Mestalla, while Real Sociedad will use Friday's performance to fine-tune their lineup before a demanding early-season schedule.