Antony picks up new injury concern ahead of key week for Real Betis

Real Betis are heading into a demanding week with a fresh concern over Antony, who picked up a muscular problem in the 5-2 win against Osasuna. The Brazilian winger had already been dealing with an ankle issue and was used for just over twenty minutes off the bench, but after the final whistle he sat down on the pitch as several teammates came over to check on him.

• Antony played a little over 20 minutes against Osasuna due to his ankle problem.
• He finished the match with a muscular issue, separate from the previous injury.
• Manager Pellegrini confirmed the player felt something and needs assessment.
• Medical tests are scheduled for Monday to determine the extent of the problem.
• Porto in the Champions League and Barcelona in LaLiga are up next for Betis.

What happened to Antony during Betis vs Osasuna

Antony came into the Osasuna match still nursing discomfort in his ankle, which had limited him in the days leading up to the game. Pellegrini chose to start him on the bench, giving the winger extra time to recover before a particularly busy stretch of fixtures.

He entered the contest with the result already well under control and got just over twenty minutes to build rhythm. The night, however, brought a new warning sign: once the game ended, he remained seated on the grass while several Betis players approached to see how he was feeling.

Pellegrini's comments on Antony's muscle problem

I managed to talk to him briefly but it looks like he felt a slight muscular issue, nothing to do with the ankle. Today we left him on the bench so he could have a few more days to recover from the ankle. We'll see tomorrow what it is.

The Chilean coach made a clear distinction between the two issues in his press conference. The ankle problem the player had been carrying is unrelated to what he felt against Osasuna, which suggests caution but also leaves the door open to something relatively minor.

Antony's medical tests and the recovery timeline

The Brazilian is expected to undergo medical checks on Monday, when Betis will find out whether he is dealing with an actual injury or simply muscle fatigue from the effort. That diagnosis will determine his availability for the team's next two matches.

With so little recovery time between games, any physical setback can rule a player out for several fixtures. If the tests confirm an injury, Antony would face an uphill battle to feature in Wednesday's European tie or Saturday's league match.

What is at stake for Betis against Porto and Barcelona

The Champions League tie against Porto is the first major test of the week. Betis take on a side well used to competing in Europe, and they need their most dangerous attacking pieces to try to produce a strong result. Antony has shown since his arrival that he can shift the momentum of a game with very little.

Three days later, Pellegrini's team travel to face Barcelona in LaLiga, always one of the toughest fixtures on the calendar. Losing Antony for both matches would be a significant blow to the coach's plans, especially after he was already rested carefully during the closing stages of the Osasuna game.

How Betis stand after the win over Osasuna

The 5-2 result against Osasuna left a positive mood in the Betis dressing room, with an outstanding attacking display and a home crowd fully enjoying the night at the Benito Villamarín. The team won convincingly and picked up three points that boost confidence ahead of a demanding run.

The Antony concern is the only sour note from an otherwise strong evening. The winger, who has become one of the team's key attacking references since joining, will be monitored from early Monday. Both the medical staff and the coaching team hope the problem turns out to be nothing more than a scare.