At 5.30 pm (English time) the Heliopolitan expedition landed at Newcastle on a flight from Malaga. Once the team members had left their belongings in their rooms, they headed towards the training grounds of Slaley Hall Hotel for the first of the workouts scheduled for this second stage of the preseason. It has served as a prelude to the meeting to be held against Motherwell FC tomorrow; the team that plays in the Scottish Premier League got through the playoffs to qualify for the UEFA Europa League this summer. 

After last night's defeat against the Marbella FC (2-1) Betis want to improve the performance shown in the second half and keep adjusting their competitive pace for the start of the League. Consequently, Julio Velázquez has not given a moment's truce in the afternoon session in which he was demanding when working on various tactical concepts that will be put in to practice at Fir Park, the venue of the match which will not be open to the public.

So, the activity consisted of physical work combined with other exercises which focussed on the ball, and there were no regrettable incidents to lament. Which was a reason for celebration after the negative news yesterday with Alvaro Vadillo's injury, who will be sidelined for between six and seven months. The winger from Cadiz was very much in the team's thoughts throughout the trip because his colleagues were continually sending encouragement to the apprentice, one of the best players in the weeks so far this preseason.

They will spend seven days on British soil finishing the stage on August 8, with games against Motherwell FC, Stoke City FC (August 6) and Sunderland (August 7), good touchstones for checking the progress of this Betis team. To this end, the Real Betis coach from Salamanca will work with 26 players, among which there are players from Betis B, Isaac, Jaime Isuardi and José Carlos in addition to Lolo Reyes, who continues to work with the fitness coach Fran Molano to recover from the injury on his left knee. Juanfran also travelled with the team, whilst he was absent yesterday with the Clubs permission, today he has trained with the rest of the team.