Warsaw: Like a Stone in the Shoe

The start of the Conference League campaign feels like a stone in the shoe, and an undeniable indication of this is the technical decision behind the absence of Giovanni Lo Celso, the man who has been facilitating the adjustment to Isco’s long-term injury. Pellegrini has made the sublime choice to leave the Rosario native out of the squad for this match, as the derby is just around the corner.

However, this does not mean that the clash this evening at the Polish Army Stadium arrives quietly and without due attention. The crowd gathered in this venue is known for their unwavering support for their team, Legia Warsaw, the third pillar supporting Polish football. Together with Lech Poznan and Wisla Krakow, Legia always enters any domestic competition as a favorite, finishing third in the last league season.

This position is significantly better than their current seventh in the Ekstraklasa, Poland’s top division, following a 1-1 draw at home against Gornik last Saturday. Nonetheless, Legia remains somewhat of an enigma, with possibly the only recognizable name being striker Marc Gual, the Catalan player who spent several seasons with Sevilla Atlético and even donned the Spain U-21 national team jersey.

Under normal circumstances, Real Betis should not leave empty-handed, despite the warm support of their fans. However, Lo Celso’s voluntary absence indicates a noticeable gap in quality that suggests this task can be managed without the Argentine. Yet, it must be emphasized how this match in Warsaw feels like a stone in the shoe—untimely and with the urgent need to make a mark in this competition.