La Liga 2026–2027: Valencia vs. Betis, Probable Lineups

The Spanish league has just begun, but it’s already time for make-up games: Valencia and Betis will face off in the Matchday 1 fixture that had been postponed due to a request from the Andalusian club—endorsed by La Liga officials—to reschedule the first matchday because their squad included players competing in the semifinals and final of the 2026 World Cup. Specifically, the only player involved in this situation is Betis’ Giovani Lo Celso, but that was enough to reschedule the match for August 25.

Valencia is coming off another home game, a 0-0 draw against Celta. It was a lackluster game and a rather disappointing start for the Bianconeri, who have spent several seasons outside the top spots and have been forced, in recent years, to struggle to avoid relegation to the Segunda División. Several players are unavailable, all due to injury: from Canos to Copete, from De Haas to Foulquier, from Diego Lopez to Alberto Mari. Coach Carlos Corberán is called upon to make a virtue of necessity to avoid defeat.

On the other side is a battle-hardened veteran on the bench, Manuel Pellegrini, whose task is to keep the team focused and avoid getting carried away by the Champions League buzz this year—a spot secured thanks to a fifth-place finish in 2025–2026 and the extra spot guaranteed to Spain by the UEFA ranking. Here, too, the list of absentees is significant: Conde, Ezzalzouli, Morante, Petit, Ruibal, and Lo Celso himself—who is dealing with a muscle issue—will all be out. The team is once again counting on Riquelme, the match-winner from Friday’s game against Real Sociedad.

Probable Lineups

VALENCIA (4-3-1-2): Dimitrievski; Vazquez, Tarrega, Diakhaby, Gaya; Ugrinic, Guerra, Rodriguez; Pepelu; Sato, Umar. Coach: Corberán.

BETIS (4-3-3): Valles; Garcia, Natan, Bartra, Bellerin; Roca, Bernal, Fornals; Riquelme, Hernandez, Antony. Coach: Pellegrini.