Real Betis visit Borussia Dortmund with a shared history still vivid for manager Manuel Pellegrini, midfielder Isco and club adviser Joaquín. All three were involved in Málaga’s 2013 Champions League quarter-final against Dortmund, which ended in a dramatic and controversial elimination for the Spanish side.
Málaga drew 0-0 at home in the first leg and appeared on course for the semi-finals after taking a 2-1 lead in Germany through Joaquín and Eliseu. Dortmund scored twice in stoppage time, with the decisive goal coming from Felipe Santana. Both late goals were described as offside in the original account, and the result sent Dortmund through with a 3-2 aggregate win.
Pellegrini had travelled to Germany shortly after his father’s death. The Chilean coach said at the time that Málaga had been denied a place in the next round. He now returns to Dortmund with Betis, who have beaten Lille, Porto and Feyenoord in their three Champions League matches so far. Pellegrini said before the game that his side wanted to secure qualification as soon as possible and believed they had an opportunity to do so.
Isco’s performances for Málaga helped establish him as a rising figure in Spanish football and led to a move to Real Madrid, where he later won five Champions League titles. Joaquín scored Málaga’s opening goal in the Dortmund match with a left-footed shot. He is now a Betis adviser and shareholder, and travelled to Germany with his family.
The Betis delegation is supported by as many as 6,000 travelling fans. Dortmund, meanwhile, are described as joint leaders of the Bundesliga and 13th in the Champions League league phase, with two wins and one defeat. Betis are fourth in the league and fifth in the European competition.
Sources: El País Deportes.