Manchester United loanee Antony continues to be impactful for Real Betis since joining the Spanish club during the winter transfer window until the end of this season
Antony reacted ideally to not being in the latest Brazil squad announcement by assisting another goal for Real Betis hours afterwards.
The on-loan Manchester United winger helped on a header from Isco into the path of centre-forward Cedric Bakambu to finish from close range. That goal gave them an advantage early in the second half of their Conference League round of 16 first leg against Vitoria Guimaraes.
Barely three minutes later, though, their visitors from across the border in Portugal equalised to level the tie through a fine strike from Mendes. But with a quarter of an hour to go, Betis retook the lead when Isco put them ahead after finishing a well-worked team move.
However, they could not hold on again, as Nelson Oliveira scored six minutes later. The former Norwich City, Nottingham Forest, Swansea City and Reading striker finished a move that began with a Vitoria free-kick that Antony gave away on the halfway line and received a yellow card for.
Despite that and Betis ultimately drawing, Antony continued his fine form since arriving in Seville. The winger has three assists alongside three goals in eight matches across all competitions.
That form was not enough to earn an international recall, though. Dorival Junior decided against calling up Antony for the first time in two years, instead bringing Neymar back into the fold following a 17-month injury absence.
Other forwards in the national team include Estevao Willian, Joao Pedro, Matheus Cunha, Raphinha, Rodrygo, Savinho and Vinicius Junior. Evanilson, Pedro, Pepe and Richarlison have also made the squad more recently than Antony.
The winger was a regular for Brazil in the year before signing for United; however, since playing at the 2022 World Cup, he has received just one further cap. That substitute appearance in a March 2023 friendly against Morocco was his 22nd game for his country, scoring two international goals.
While Betis were drawing with Vitoria in the Conference League, United were held 1-1 as they took on Real Sociedad in the Europa League. Ruben Amorim’s side had taken the lead in the second half when Joshua Zirkzee swept Alejandro Ganracho’s cross into the net.
However, late VAR drama led to a penalty being awarded to the home side for a handball by Bruno Fernandes in the box. Mikel Oyarzabal stepped up and made no mistake from the spot, leaving the tie in the balance heading into the second leg at Old Trafford on March 13.
