Real Betis to host AFC Bournemouth in pre-season friendly at Estadio La Cartuja on August 08
Real Betis will host AFC Bournemouth at Estadio La Cartuja on August 08 in a pre-season friendly, the LaLiga side’s sixth tune-up ahead of the 2026-27 campaign. The match pits Manuel Pellegrini’s Betis against Marco Rose’s Bournemouth as both teams continue their preparation ahead of the new season.
Real Betis arrive off a 3-1 victory over Arsenal in their most recent friendly, a result in which several regular Arsenal players were absent from the Gunners’ lineup. Betis have suffered one defeat in their last five matches and will look to build on their recent form in front of a home crowd. Bournemouth have played three pre-season fixtures so far and remain unbeaten across those games under Rose.
Pablo Fornals, a 30-year-old Spaniard, played a central role in the 3-1 win over Arsenal by providing two assists and scoring the third goal himself. Betis’ preview singled out Fornals for his contribution from midfield to attack and for the influence he is expected to exert in this fixture. The club has presented him as a key figure to manage possession and create scoring chances.
Bournemouth’s pre-season schedule has produced high-scoring results: a 10-1 victory over Genoa, a 4-1 win against St. Pauli and a 5-2 triumph over Augsburg. The Marco Rose-led side’s sequence of results has featured an attacking output across their three matches. Those scorelines are the basis for the assessment of Bournemouth’s attacking form in this preview.
Justin Kluivert, identified in the preview as a primary attacking option for Bournemouth, is described as capable of playing both as a winger and an attacking midfielder. The article states the 27-year-old has been in fine form for the Cherries and will be one to watch in the upcoming friendly. The preview also lists Evanilson and Rayan among Bournemouth’s forward options.
Real Betis were reported to be without Diego Conde, Ismael Barea and Abde Ezzalzouli because they are not match-fit. For Bournemouth, Julian Araujo, Eli Junior Kroupi and Veljko Milosavljevic were stated as unavailable due to injury, while Julio Soler is back in training. The preview published the following squads: Real Betis — Valles (GK); Bellerin, Bartra, Natan, Fran Garcia; Bernal, Fornals, Gnangoro; Riquelme, Pablo Garcia, Deossa. AFC Bournemouth — Dennis (GK); Truffert, Silva, Diakite, Aarons; Kluivert, Scott, Toth, Doak; Evanilson, Rayan.
The preview noted that El Glorioso have performed well in pre-season and suggested being at home could give Betis a slight edge, while also stating, "The Cherries are not going to go down without a tough fight." Fans will be able to watch the friendly live via afcbTV.
