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Last week, Daniel Farke revealed that Ethan Ampadu is racing against time to recover from a knee injury in time for Leeds United’s push for promotion in the Championship.
For most clubs in England’s second tier, losing their captain this late in the season—especially with promotion at stake—would be a nightmare scenario that even Freddy Krueger might hesitate to conjure.
However, with Joe Rodon and Pascal Struijk returning to fitness, Ampadu’s potential four-to-six-week absence isn’t a complete disaster for Leeds.
While Ampadu is undoubtedly important, especially given his leadership on and off the field, Leeds have enough strength in depth, with Rodon and Struijk in central defense and midfield options like Ao Tanaka, Ilya Gruev, and Joe Rothwell vying for places.
So while it’s a blow, it’s not a season-ending catastrophe.
In contrast, across in Spain, a former Leeds United defender is writing his own comeback story.
Diego Llorente, who moved from Leeds to Real Betis for £2.5 million last summer, was expected to be a squad player at best after returning to La Liga, particularly after the club also signed the promising young defender Natan on loan from Napoli.
But in Betis’ thrilling victory over Real Madrid at the Estadio Benito Villamarin, it was Llorente who made the difference.
While Natan watched from the bench, Llorente played a key role in keeping Kylian Mbappé quiet, capping his twelfth consecutive La Liga start with a standout performance.
Ahead of the match, much of the attention was on Antony, the Manchester United loanee whose red card had been controversially rescinded.
But as Betis stunned Madrid, Llorente was the one making headlines, proving himself as the cornerstone of Betis’ defense.
“El Pespunte” called his performance “an impossible wall to break down,” describing him as unyielding and dominant.
They added that Llorente didn’t lose a single duel and was exceptional in his ball progression, giving him a 9/10 rating. Madrid struggled to break through, repeatedly finding Llorente a formidable obstacle.
Llorente’s journey back to form has been marked by a clear improvement in his overall game, particularly his composure on the ball, which had been a weak point during his time at Leeds.
A year after his return to Spain, it’s evident that Betis’ defensive setup, which allows Llorente to focus on his strengths, has been crucial in reigniting his career.
In the game against Madrid, he completed 93% of his passes, alongside a flawless defensive display, prompting calls for a return to the Spain national team after a three-year absence.
While Leeds may manage without Ampadu, Diego Llorente is becoming an indispensable figure at Real Betis, a far cry from his time at Elland Road, where he never fully found his stride.
