Manuel Pellegrini has made Real Betis's build-up to Real Betis vs Malaga about more than the local rivalry. Speaking to Estadio Deportivo, he went straight back to Dortmund-Málaga, VAR and the year Málaga reached the Champions League quarter-finals after losing eight or nine players before the competition began.

Pellegrini's memory of Málaga's European run

Pellegrini's point was not just nostalgia. He linked the Dortmund tie to a season in which Málaga lost a chunk of the squad, then still went on to the last eight. He also said that for people who criticise VAR, there is no way that kind of ending could happen now.

The timing of the reminder sits oddly well with Betis' own week. Their Copa del Rey match against Navalcarnero was postponed until 12 November after the Urda railway tragedy in the province of Toledo, so the Malaga fixture has become the main match on the calendar.

Antony's return and Betis' availability

The other part of the story is more straightforward. Antony trained normally with the rest of the group after recovering from a viral illness, and Pellegrini said his issue is more about an excess of anxiety than anything physical. That keeps the spotlight on how much he can add rather than whether he is fit enough to be involved.

His numbers show why Betis want him available. Antony has made 9 league appearances this season and already has 1 assist in the Champions League. He has not scored in the league yet, but his role still matters in a squad that is close to full strength again.

There are still absences. Junior Firpo and Facundo Bernal remain out, while Cucho Hernández is also still missing. Even so, Betis go into the game with a near clean bill of health compared with the start of the season.

The table gives the derby a blunt edge. Real Betis are fourth in La Liga with 20 points, while Malaga are bottom with 5 points from 10 matches and still waiting for their first league win. The emotional frame may come from Dortmund-Málaga, but the practical edge still belongs to Betis.

Written by Daniel Hartley with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 2 outlets. How we work →