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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Mark Walker

Real Betis forced into Celtic U turn as Manuel Pellegrini's 'best team' money boast hits the skids

Real Betis are set to be without four key stars for their trip to face Celtic on Thursday with defender Martin Montoya added to the absentee list.

It comes after boss Manuel Pellegrini threatened he would play his "best team" in Glasgow - because the La Liga club need the cash that comes with a win.

Betis are already sure of second-place in Group G and are unable to catch Bayer Leverkusen after the Germans thumped them 4-0.

It means there's an air of dead rubber about Thursday's clash at Parkhead with Celtic four adrift of them in third-place.

However each Europa League win is worth €630,000 (£535,000) - substantially more than the €210,000 (£178,000) earned for a draw.

(JULIO MUNOZ/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)

And Pellegrini said previously: "We can go to Glasgow relaxed and with no pressure, ahead of the match against Real Sociedad.

"But we are going to play our best team and we are going to Scotland for the win.

"There are two reasons for that. The prestige such a victory would bring and because of the economic benefits of collecting three points in the Europa League."

Ange Postecoglou has echoed those sentiments for different reasons as he wants his side to test themselves against the best.

But any hopes of Betis fielding their strongest team have been dashed by the absence of defender Montoya.

Betis warmed up for their visit to Glasgow with a stunning 1-0 win at Barcelona and they face high-flying Real Sociedad at the weekend.

They are already without star man Nabil Fekir who was sent off in Real Betis' 4-0 hammering in Germany against Bayer Leverkusen after he lashed out and put his hands around the throat of home star Kerem Demirbay.

UEFA handed him a three-game ban.

And they are also set to be without full back Montaya, who suffered a minor knock against Barcelona at the weekend and will be allowed to miss the game to recover.

Betis are already without Senegal international defender Youssouf Sabaly and Spanish midfielder Víctor Camarasa, who are both injured.

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