LaLiga: Betis hunts Athletic on the counterattack | Soccer | Sports

PreviousLiveChronicle

Betis, organized and lethal on the counterattack, stopped Athletic’s impeccable march. The misfortunes and the red card for Nico Williams for applauding the referee in the 40th minute were insurmountable obstacles for Valverde’s team, which lost a good chance to catch up with Atlético in fourth place after Simeone’s team stumbled in Almería. It is not easy to win at the Benito Villamarín either, where Betis regained its sensations after its European elimination. With the victory, the Andalusians take sixth position at the expense of Real Sociedad. And also, what is more important, they show good play and speed, decisive elements to fight in the final stretch of the League for a European place.

3

Rui Silva, Chadi Riad, Pezzella, Sabaly, Aitor Ruibal (Héctor Bellerín, min. 71), Johnny, Sergi Altimira, Fekir (Assane Diao, min. 85), Chimy Ávila (Rodri, min. 51), Fornals and Willian José

1

Unai Simón, Daniel Vivian, Aitor Paredes (Vesga, min. 71), Yuri (Imanol Garcia, min. 49), De Marcos, O. Sancet (Williams, min. 45), Benat Prados (Dani García, min. 59) , Nico Williams, Ruiz de Galarreta (Unai Gómez, min. 59), Berenguer and Guruzeta

Goals 1-0 min. 12: Chimy Avila. 2-0 min. 37: Yuri (pp). 2-1 min. 52: Guruzeta. 3-1 min. 67: Johnny.

Referee Guillermo Cuadra Fernandez

Yellow cards Chimy Ávila (min. 29), Yuri (min. 32), Berenguer (min. 40), Daniel Vivian (min. 47) and Imanol Garcia (min. 58)

Athletic, who had only lost one of the last 14 league duels, was stronger than usual, they were surprised by a great counterattack in the 13th minute, with Chimy Ávila’s first goal as a Betic player, and everything turned in their favor. against. The negative note of the crash came with the injury of referee assistant Guadalupe Porras, who collided with a camera in the 14th minute and had to leave the field on a stretcher. She was replaced by the fourth official, Holgueras Castellanos.

Almost everything went wrong for Athletic on the miserable Sevillian afternoon. Valverde put into play a very recognizable eleven beyond the substitution of Iñaki Williams – in mind, the cup semi-final against Atlético. And he found himself, first, with a very serious and well-placed Betis, eager to forget the European elimination in the Conference League. A revitalized team with the introductions of Sabaly, Fornals and Chimy Ávila, who faced the game with a great counterattack played to perfection by Willian José. Ávila scored and Athletic was shipwrecked. Neither Sancet nor Berenguer nor Nico touched the ball. Betis felt more and more comfortable. And luck was with him.

A great ball from Fekir into the area was finished off by Willian José. The rebound hit Yuri and slipped into Unai Simón’s goal. It happened just two minutes after Nico was sent off in the 40th minute. In the culmination of Basque misfortunes, Yuri injured his muscle. The only thing that brought Valverde some happiness was a shot from Guruzeta that made it 2-1 in his first shot on goal.

But Betis controlled the game perfectly in the second half. They have players who touch the ball very well, so with numerical superiority their game flowed with confidence. Of course, Berenguer had a clear chance to tie in the 55th minute. Betis took note. He pressed the accelerator and, in another counterattack, Cardoso scored a good goal from outside the area after a pass from Fekir. From there, with the third goal and Fekir himself in charge, Betis played and played until a match that they knew how to play at all times cooled down.