Real Betis are set to be without Nabil Fekir for their next two Europa League games in Group G, after Uefa suspended the player for their upcoming games against Ferencvaros and Celtic. The group is evenly poised for the battle of second spot, as Celtic recorded back-to-back victories over Ferncvaros on match days three and four.
Celtic faltered in the heat of Betis in a pulsating match for the neutrals, eventually losing by a single goal. After taking a two goal lead in the first 30 minutes, Celtic allowed Betis a lifeline before half-time and it came back to haunt us. Betis took advantage of our inability to finish them off, with the tables turning when they went 4-2 up after some questionable defending from Ange’s team. Anthony Ralston pulled a goal back deep into stoppage time, but unfortunately it was not enough to return to Glasgow with anything from the game in Seville.
Fekir was always menacing and a constant threat of creativity throughout the game in the Spanish heat that evening. However, Celtic will be pleased to know that the irascible Frenchman has received a two-game ban following what Uefa deemed “violent conduct” (Daily Record). Fekir lost his composure in a heated exchange with Leverkusen’s Kemer Demirbay, putting his hand around his opponents neck in a throttling motion.
Now, Fekir will not only miss out against Ferencvaros but will not be available to face the Hoops at Celtic Park on 9 December. With the loss of their star man in both games, Celtic will be hoping it gives Ferencvaros a stronger chance of grabbing a point in matchday five in Spain. Then hopefully we can put ourselves into the next round of the Europa League by defeating a weaker Betis side at Paradise.
It is still admittedly very hard to see the Hungarians getting anything over in Seville. However, we live in hope until it is mathematically impossible for us to qualify to the knockout stages of the Europa League in second place behind Leverkusen.
Paul Gillespie
