Betis’ season isn’t just being written in results; it’s being written in adjustments. And if you want the cleanest case study, it’s Antony. According to Jogo Hoje, the Brazilian winger is living his best output through constant pubalgia, beating his own ceiling for participations diretas em gols while still navigating a body that clearly isn’t fully “on.” The celebration is real, but the tension is built in.
On matchday 34 of LaLiga, the 3-0 win over Oviedo at Estadio de la Cartuja wasn’t merely another box to tick. Antony hit 23 participações diretas em gols in 2025/26, a direct involvement total that matters because it reflects decision-making, timing, and efficiency under physical limits. That number climbs above his previous high of 22 in 2021/22 with Ajax. How many attackers can do that while constantly managing pain in the groin and still look like a starter?
The record came with pain
Let’s be precise about what’s happening. Antony’s 23 direct goal involvements weren’t produced in a perfect, frictionless environment. He’s been dealing with recurring groin discomfort for months, and the staff have had to lean hard on gestão de carga. That’s not an aesthetic detail; it’s a tactical limiter. When explosiveness drops, the whole attacking profile has to be re-engineered.
We’re talking about the kind of issue that changes how quickly a winger can accelerate into the último terço, how sharply he can win contact, and how often he can commit to a high-risk 1 contra 1 without paying for it later. Antony used to light games up with speed and direct dribbling from wide. Now? The same threat has to be manufactured differently, with more “football” and less pure burst.
What Antony changed at Betis
Under Manuel Pellegrini, Antony has shifted his job description. The most telling evolution is that he’s becoming more of a connector inside Betis’ attacking rhythm. Instead of living on the first-yard sprint and the guaranteed dribble, he’s opting to be a higher-frequency passing option, triggering jogo associativo moments and accelerating combinations around him.
In practical terms, his decision-making has improved. He’s picking the pass earlier, scanning the second runner, and choosing when to sink into pockets and when to stay as an outlet. That’s the difference between “trying to beat a man” and “helping the team beat the line.”
You can see it in the way Betis attack down the right. Antony’s presence forces defenses to double because he still carries 1v1 threat. But once the second defender shows up, the spacing opens inside the último terço, and that’s where his new role pays off through better combinations, more direct finishing, and more accurate final actions.
- More connective passes in the build-up and in the half-spaces
- More efficient finishing because he’s arriving in better body positions
- More goal contributions because his output is now tied to team movements, not just personal duels
Why pubalgia altered his game
This is the part that doesn’t get enough respect. Pubalgia doesn’t only hurt; it reshapes the mechanics. Antony can’t rely on the same repeated explosiveness that defined his earlier profile. So the adaptation becomes inevitable: if the body can’t consistently sprint into space, the mind has to start creating space for others and for himself through timing.
That’s where the tactical shift becomes visible. Antony’s offensive transition moments are more controlled now. He still attacks quickly, but he’s not burning energy on every carry. He’s using the touchline to draw the press, then switching to angles that support transição ofensiva and keep Betis moving forward without wasting bursts that the groin can’t always repay.
And yes, there’s an emotional layer, but we’re not here for clichés. The real story is how Antony turned a physical constraint into a tactical weapon. That’s elite adaptation. Not “comeback.” Not “miracle.” Just smart football under pressure.
The stakes: Europe, coefficient, and indirect selection pressure
The physical story is intense, but the competitive story is even sharper. Betis aren’t simply enjoying a good league run; they’re in a real fight for European qualification. After the 3-0 over Oviedo, Pellegrini’s side sit on 53 points, six clear of Celta de Vigo, with four rounds remaining. That margin isn’t huge enough to relax, but it’s enough to feel the clock ticking.
European nights also come with a chain reaction. Betis reached the quarterfinals of the Copa del Rey but were knocked out by Atlético de Madrid. In the Europa League, they also reached the same stage and fell to Braga. Those exits hurt, but they also concentrate focus back into the league, where Antony’s output has direct impact on points accumulation.
There’s also the “fifth spot” possibility for LaLiga depending on how results fall in the Champions League and Conference League. If the coefficient path opens up, Betis could be in line for a principal European ticket by UEFA calculations. That’s the kind of scenario where a winger’s efficiency becomes priceless.
Then comes the Seleção angle, and it’s not just about headlines. Antony has been left out of the last two call-ups by Carlo Ancelotti. With the North America trip for the World Cup squads unlikely, the next season becomes a selection audition by performance rather than by narrative. Every goal contribution becomes a memo to whoever is evaluating him.
Meanwhile, the club’s medical staff are expected to review his case at the end of 2025/26. The question on the table is whether surgery for the groin problem is necessary to stop the recurring issue. If Betis want Antony at full throttle, they’ll need the body to match the brain.
O Veredito Jogo Hoje
Here’s our call: Antony’s numbers aren’t “lucky” and they’re not only “good form.” This is tactical maturity forged by limitation. His gestão de carga forced a reshaping of the way he attacks, and that reshaping made him more dangerous in collective patterns: better jogo associativo, smarter entries into the último terço, and more reliable impact through transição ofensiva and calculated 1 contra 1 moments. If Betis finish in Europe’s orbit, it won’t just be because they found intensity. It’ll be because Antony learned how to decide like a top winger even when his legs are asking for mercy.
Perguntas Frequentes
How many direct goal contributions does Antony have this season for Betis?
Antony has 23 participações diretas em gols in 2025/26.
How did pubalgia change Antony’s style of play?
Because of recurring groin pain, Antony’s explosiveness and repeated acceleration for wide dribbles are affected. He’s adapted by prioritizing passing options, improving his decision-making, participating more in jogo associativo, and creating goal chances through combinations rather than relying solely on repeated sprints into the último terço.
Can Antony still be called up to the Brazilian national team?
He missed the last two call-ups under Carlo Ancelotti, and he’s unlikely to make the final 26-man list for the World Cup trip. That said, his form at Betis keeps him in the conversation if his condition stabilizes and his production remains high.
