Hector Bellerin provided a brace of assists to help Real Betis progress to the next round of the Europa League on Thursday.

Real Betis v Celtic FC: Group G - UEFA Europa League - Hector Bellerin of Real Betis during the UEFA Europa League Group G stage match between Real Betis and Celtic FC at Benito Villamarin Stadium on September 16, 2021, in Seville, Spain. Copyright: DAX Images
Real Betis v Celtic FC: Group G – UEFA Europa League – Hector Bellerin of Real Betis during the UEFA Europa League Group G stage match between Real Betis and Celtic FC at Benito Villamarin Stadium on September 16, 2021, in Seville, Spain. Copyright: DAX Images

Arsenal loanee Hector Bellerin hasn’t had the best run of games with Real Betis lately, and he needed something to turn that around on Thursday night.

The right-back is currently suspended in La Liga following a red card in his last match, but he’s free to feature in the Europa League. He made the starting lineup against Ferencvárosi TC on Thursday.

Bellerin ended up assisting both of Betis’ goals on the night, in a 2-0 win that sees them into the Europa League knockout stages with a game to spare.

For the first goal, Bellerin received the ball with a trademark run in behind the defence before sliding a low cross into the centre of the area. Cristian Tello was on hand to finish.

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The second assist was more straightforward, with Bellerin simply playing a square ball inside to Sergio Canales, who curled his shot in from distance. Both assists count the same on Bellerin’s tally!

WhoScored included Bellerin in their Europa League Team of the Week, giving him a 7.6 rating for his performance.

Betis are second in their Europa League group, four points clear of Celtic in third, so they can’t be caught on the final matchday. They’re also three points behind Bayer Leverkusen with a head-to-head disadvantage, so they will finish second whatever happens.

As for Bellerin, it’s just good to see him back on form after a rough few weeks.

ELCHE, SPAIN: Hector Bellerin of Real Betis is given the red card during the La Liga Santander match between Elche CF and Real Betis at Estadio Manuel Martinez Valero on November 21, 2021. (Photo by Aitor Alcalde/Getty Images)
ELCHE, SPAIN: Hector Bellerin of Real Betis is given the red card during the La Liga Santander match between Elche CF and Real Betis at Estadio Manuel Martinez Valero on November 21, 2021. (Photo by Aitor Alcalde/Getty Images)

Bellerin missed out on a match in late October through illness, with Manuel Pellegrini explaining that he was too unwell to feature against Atletico Madrid. Betis lost 3-0 in his absence.

The defender returned to play against Bayer Leverkusen in the Europa League, but Leverkusen ran riot, winning 4-0.

Bellerin then started the derby against Sevilla, and his own goal doubled Betis’ opponents’ lead. After the international break, he was sent off for denying a goalscoring opportunity.

But these couple of Europa League assists provide hope that Bellerin is back to the form that had won him a lot of praise in his first month or so on loan.

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