Nervión exploded like on big nights. Sevilla, this Sevilla that has been suffering for two years at the bottom of the table, once again showed that the derby, in the capital of Andalusia, has a clear Sevillista color. Sevilla, whether it is better or worse classified, whether it suffers a terrible institutional crisis or falls to pieces, recomposes itself in a wonderful way to win the duel of the maximum Sevillian rivalry to hit, as almost always, a Betis without soul or ability to fight in these battles.
1
Ørjan Nyland, Adrià Pedrosa (Kike Salas, min. 78), Tanguy Nianzou, Loïc Badé, José Ángel Carmona, Chidera Ejuke (Marcão, min. 90), Lucien Agoumé (Albert Sambi Lokonga, min. 71), Peque (Suso, min. 78), Nemanja Gudelj, Dodi Lukébakio and Isaac Romero (Jesús Navas, min. 71)
0
Rui Silva, Ricardo Rodríguez (Romain Perraud, min. 85), Natan, Héctor Bellerín, Diego Llorente, Johnny Cardoso, Giovani Lo Celso, Marc Roca (Aitor Ruibal, min. 63), Abde Ezzalzouli (Chimy Ávila, min. 78) , Pablo Fornals and Vitor Roque (Cédric Bakambu, min. 63)
Goals
1-0 min. 49: Lukebakio
Referee Juan Martínez Munuera
Abde (min. 19), Souza (min. 51), Gudelj (min. 53), Nianzou Tanguy Kouassi (min. 75), Ørjan Haskjold Nyland (min. 76), José Ángel Carmona (min. 80), Chimy Ávila (min. 82), Lucien Agoume (min. 82)
red cards
Nianzou Tanguy Kouassi (min. 89)
A penalty goal from Lukébakio in the 50th minute by the hands of Llorente opened the way to victory for Sevilla, who were able to score more goals in the counterattacks they had in the second half, when a gray Betis, without soul, showed themselves as a true broken toy Bad night in green and white on a very special day for Manuel Pellegrini, who became the oldest coach to coach a First Division match at the age of 71 years and 20 days. Special night also for Jesús Navas, the undisputed king of the derbies. He added 28 to unseat Joaquín as the footballer with the most duels played in history at 38 years old. “Another year the same,” sang the full Pizjuán to the joy of their people and the derision of some Betis who were very dissatisfied with Betis.
It all started when Adrián, Betis’ substitute goalkeeper, applauded the Biris when it was his turn to warm up with his teammate Rui Silva. That’s where the derby began, which went from the streets of a crowded Seville to the grass of the Sánchez Pizjuán. Adrián knows what a derby is, having grown up in the green and white youth academy.
With Lo Celso as the great banner, Betis, always in a lesser tone in the derbies even if they arrive better classified, soon felt the harassment of a Sevilla much more involved in the game. Pellegrini’s men suffered in the first few minutes that they attacked too coldly. And they were scared. A goal by Ejukle at 10 minutes was canceled due to a previous offside by Lukébakio. It is a trend that Betis faces derbies in a gray way.
Betis was brought out of the morass, as always, by Lo Celso, their only differential player. A shot from Vitor Roque and another from Lo Celso himself that narrowly missed encouraged the green and white team, who always gave the impression of leaving something against a much more complete Sevilla, although with less quality in general. García Pimienta’s men fed on Lukébakio’s runs, with Ricardo Rodríguez suffering. The coverage of the center backs and Cardoso, the midfielder, saved Betis, unable to enter through the wings, with a crazy and clueless Abde. Betis’s best chance came from Vitor Roque, who was in the area after a great pass from Lo Celso. However, although Nyland saved the goal, the play would have been disallowed for offside if it ended in a goal. Thus, between the lack of efficiency of Sevilla and the dullness of Betis, the break was reached with a logical tie at zero.
Everything changed after 50 minutes. Martínez Munuera, who carried out impeccable refereeing, awarded a penalty in a shot by Agoumé that hit Llorente’s hand. Despite the protests of the Betis players, the penalty was awarded with the approval of the VAR. Lukébakio scored and the game went the way Sevilla wanted.
Intensive retreat and counterattack against a Betis that was slow to the point of exhaustion. Lo Celso disappeared and the green and white team’s play, imprecise and lacking depth, was a gift for Sevilla. García Pimienta is an intelligent coach and covers up the shortcomings of his players. Pellegrini is disappointing with a squad that is much more pretty than good. Betis’ harassment was useless. Sevilla had the best chances in the second half through Isaac and Lukébakio.
Betis, a ghost, was not even able to shoot between the three sticks in the seven minutes of extra time, which Sevilla faced with one less player due to the expulsion of Nianzou in the 90th. Always below what a derby required, Betis was withering away into a football that was as useless as it was innocuous. The Sánchez Pizjuán exploded with joy with the fair victory of a team that, despite its shortcomings, prevailed with determination and order against a rival that must reflect a lot about its performance.
With the two teams now tied on 12 points, the Sevilla fans, very depressed about their team’s situation, now have reasons to be more optimistic. The derby triggered the emotions and qualities of a Sevilla team that won a derby again. Pellegrini has been in the League for nine years and has never won.
