Betis overcame a terrible first half to chase away its ghosts and end a streak of four consecutive defeats. The victory was based on a play between their full-backs, Bellerín and Miranda, which resulted in the first goal. And, above all, in the influence on the game of its two decisive footballers, Isco and Fekir. The world champion was a substitute, but he changed the face of Betis when he came on in the second half. Those were the moments when Isco also started playing. With these two elements so connected, the issue became very complicated for Celta. The Galicians had clear options in the first half and still pressed in the final minutes after Larsen’s goal. Betis had gone ahead with goals from Miranda and Fekir, who scored the first goal of the season. Fekir may not be in his best form, but the quality he has is still worth it to this Betis team that is having a hard time finishing well in the final stretch of the season. Celta suffered a painful defeat. He didn’t know how to take advantage of his moments in the first half, when Betis didn’t have any fuel. He will now have to pray that Cádiz does not beat Barcelona on Saturday.
2
Rui Silva, Héctor Bellerín (Aitor Ruibal, min. 70), Juan Miranda (Abner, min. 74), Pezzella, Chadi Riad, Ayoze Pérez (Fekir, min. 45), Guido Rodríguez, Johnny, Fornals, Isco Alarcón (Rodri , min. 86) and Willian José (Bakambu, min. 45)
1
Guaita, Manquillo (Carles Perez, min. 64), Jailson, Carlos Domínguez (Unai Núñez, min. 81), Hugo Álvarez, Fran Beltrán, Hugo Sotelo (Damián Rodríguez, min. 70), Óscar Mingueza, Jorgen Strand Larsen, Jonathan Bamba (Tadeo Allende, min. 70) and Aspas
Goals 1-0 min. 53: Juan Miranda. 2-0 min. 82: Fekir. 2-1 min. 90: Jorgen Strand Larsen.
Referee Juan Martínez Munuera
Yellow cards Pezzella (min. 46)
Betis won, which is already a lot seeing how it is, and regains seventh place, which is European, waiting for what Valencia does in Pamplona against Osasuna next Monday. Precisely on the next day he will go to Mestalla in a final for Europe, at least for the Conference League.
The good second half of the locals, sponsored by the changes introduced by Manuel Pellegrini, Bakambu and Fekir, erased a very discreet first act by the green and whites. Any resemblance between Betis and the good team that the Chilean coached was purely coincidental. It is a team that has lost its football virtues, that has no rhythm and that plays on its feet, without the ability to surprise. His game is so tedious that it attracts attention. Celta did not take enough advantage of the Andalusians’ bad moment. It is a team to which Giráldez has given life and style. A coach who does things, like changing Mingueza’s position half an hour into the game to place him inside, and who, furthermore, has been getting results. He just needed to believe it a little more against a terrible Betis. Of course, the best chances in the first act were from Celta. Rui Silva saved a good shot from Larsen, who once again had another option with a header that narrowly went wide. From Betis, nothing to point out. Not even Isco, very flawed, stood out.
The Betic team was brought out of the morass by Fekir, who threw the team on top. An excellent combination between Fornals, Bellerín and Miranda ended with the goal of the left-handed back, weak in defense, but always with a goal. Isco began to grow and combined with Fekir. There Celta took out the white flag. Too much for a team with good manners, but distressed by its delicate situation in the table. Celta fell in Claudio Giráldez’s first defeat and this Betis caught with pins breathed, saved by Isco and Fekir.
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