Real Betis manager Manuel Pellegrini has included Aitor in his squad for Wednesday’s UEFA Champions League match against Feyenoord at the Estadio de la Cartuja. The return of the midfielder marks his first appearance in a match-day roster this season, following his recovery from a meniscus operation performed at the end of the previous campaign.

Squad updates for the third Champions League fixture

The announcement, confirmed via the club’s official channels on October 20, 2026, details a 23-man squad prepared for the third round of the group stage. While Aitor returns to the fold, Pellegrini faces significant personnel challenges elsewhere in the lineup. Both Junior and Cucho remain unavailable for selection, with the club confirming that both players are expected to be sidelined for several weeks due to injury.

In addition to the injury-forced absences, Pellegrini opted to leave Losada out of the squad for this European fixture, citing technical reasons. These changes reflect the manager’s current tactical adjustments as the team prepares to face the Dutch side in Seville.

Full roster for the Feyenoord match

Real Betis will rely on a deep squad to navigate the demands of the Champions League match-day three. The full list of players traveling to or preparing at the Estadio de la Cartuja includes goalkeepers Álvaro Valles and Diego Conde, supported by a defensive unit comprised of Bellerín, Ortiz, Bartra, Llorente, Natan, Valentín, and Fran García.

The midfield and attacking options available to Pellegrini include Facundo, Marc Roca, Deossa, Fornals, Fidalgo, Ceballos, Lo Celso, Isco, Abde, Aitor, Antony, Riquelme, Morante, and Parrott. This selection provides the technical staff with various options across the pitch as they seek a result against the visitors from Rotterdam.

Context of the upcoming European challenge

The fixture at the Estadio de la Cartuja serves as a critical point in the group stage for the Verdiblancos. Having managed a series of domestic and continental commitments, the inclusion of a fully recovered Aitor offers Pellegrini extra depth in a congested October schedule. The team’s focus now shifts entirely to the Wednesday evening kickoff, where they aim to utilize their full available rotation to secure points in the tournament table.

The match represents the third appearance for the club in this year’s competition, and the squad is scheduled to finalize preparations on Tuesday before the official kickoff on Wednesday, October 21.