Setback for Pellegrini as LaLiga returns

Junior Firpo left Dominican Republic's match after 10 minutes with a muscle strain; Real Betis will assess him on return, likely ruling him out of Sunday's Osasuna clash.

Real Betis left-back Junior Firpo suffered a muscle strain in the 10th minute of Dominican Republic's World Cup qualifier against Haiti on Tuesday and was forced to leave the pitch. The player, who was already carrying discomfort from the previous match against Trinidad and Tobago, described it as "a small stretch stronger than expected." He will skip Monday's game against Nicaragua and return to Seville for medical tests to determine the extent of the injury. His availability for Betis's match against Osasuna on Sunday, October 11 is considered unlikely pending the diagnosis and recovery timeline.