Real Betis have been hit with a further huge blow ahead of next week's Europa League showdown with Rangers with another World Cup winner struggling to make the game.
Rangers need to either win in Spain in the final game in the group or match Sparta Prague's result against Aris Limassol in the other match to go through.
Real Betis were already reeling after 80-time capped Portuguese midfielder William Carvalho was ruled out until Christmas after picking up a hamstring injury.
And Argentina's World Cup winner Guido Rodríguez is also out for the game through suspension.
And his international colleague German Pezzella, who came on as a sub in Argentina's Qatar 2022 triumph against France in the final, has now picked up a hamstring strain in Betis' weekend draw at Almeria.
Real Betis boss Manuel Pellegrini said: "German felt discomfort in his hamstring. We are going to check him to see how he is for the week. He has noticed something.
"We have to hope it is not too bad, but we can't afford to take chances and took him off immediately."
Betis are also without two midfielders, Chadi Riad and Sergi Altimira, because they didn't register them for European competition.
Meanwhile, Michael Stewart has drawn comparisons between Philippe Clement and Cyriel Dessers that show the Rangers manager's treatment of Todd Cantwell is not a one-time thing.
On Thursday night the former Norwich City attacking midfielder was substituted in front of a packed Ibrox crowd in their Europa League fixture against Aris. An unusual sight in football, it came after just 35 minutes.
The Englishman was visibly frustrated with the decision as he took to the dugout.
Post-match, Clement explained that he had spoken to Cantwell and that they were both on the same wavelength regarding the issue.
