Betis have been on the fringes of the top-four race in each of the past three seasons, having finished fifth or sixth in the league in all three. Los Verdiblancos have not cracked the top four since their 2004-05 season.
During the recent off-season, Betis spent just €2 million new signings. A total of five players including Héctor Bellerín from Sporting CP, Marc Bartra from Trabzonspor, and free agent Isco, best-known for his nine-year stint at Real Madrid, were added to the roster. While these players are not necessarily scrubs, none of them even come close to moving the needle as far as Betis' pursuit of a top-four spot and qualification for next season's Champions League is ; concerned. On the other hand, Villarreal signed Ben Brereton Díaz from Blackburn Rovers and Alexander Sørloth from RB Leipzig. Brereton Díaz is tremendously underrated and has merited a spot at a better club for quite some time now, while Sørloth is fresh off a breakout season on loan at Real Sociedad.
The ongoing transfer window is active until September 2, giving Betis further opportunities to strengthen their squad in key areas. Betis have been linked with Barcelona defender Eric García as well as two players who have had previous stints at the Estadio Benito Villamarín: Real Madrid midfielder Dani Ceballos and Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Giovani Lo Celso. Of the aforementioned players, Ceballos is by far the most intriguing possibility. Despite never having been a regular starter during his four seasons at the Santiago Bernabéu, Ceballos would easily be one if he were to return to Betis. While central midfield is not particularly a position of need for Betis at the moment, Ceballos would nevertheless be a clear upgrade at the position and slot in nicely alongside Guido Rodríguez.
If Betis are to make a serious push for a top-four spot, it would likely be in their best interest to add another proven goalscorer. Last season, Betis scored just 46 league goals; even more worryingly, 15 of them came via just one player: Borja Iglesias. A similar goalscoring output will simply not get it done as far as Champions League qualification is concerned. While transfer rumours have connected Barça winger Abde Ezzalzouli to Betis, even his acquisition would likely not make a major impact on Betis' goalscoring tally. Last season, the Moroccan scored just four league goals during a loan spell at Osasuna. Although Betis have not been linked with anyone who could be claimed to even be a somewhat prolific goalscorer, they could realistically make an attempt to sign someone like Enes Ünal, Marvin Ducksch, or Elye Wahi - any of whom would give Betis some additional punch up front.
That being said, if Betis' match against Villarreal is anything to go by, the signs so far appear encouraging. Despite having far less possession than their opponents, Betis absorbed the pressure that Villarreal launched at them and made full use of the chances that came their way. While Betis are not the favourites to finish in the top four by any means, more performances like this - especially against direct rivals also pursuing that fourth Champions League berth - will greatly boost their chances of doing so.
This season, if Real Betis are to break their drought of 18 years, a lot has to go right. They could certainly do with one or two more key signings. Betis might also need a sudden hot streak somewhere during the season or a slump from one or both of Real Sociedad and Villarreal. Despite a down year last season, the threat posed by cross-town rivals Sevilla can't be underestimated either. Betis have started off on the right path - but can they keep it going all season long?
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