A great header from Bartra in the 95th minute certified the . It was the culmination of a duel that was too predictable in the first half and much more dynamic in the second. A period where Manuel Pellegrini played with an eleven that was too offensive in search of victory and where Claudio Giráldez, a wonderful coach, knew how to see Betis’ shortcomings in the center of the field to achieve victory. Cardoso left, reprimanded, and the green and white team became a team without a midfield, with too many attackers and little stability in the midfield, where Altimira suffered atrociously. Giráldez saw it, who brought in Williot and Douvikas. While it is true that Fornals hit the crossbar in the 73rd minute, the team that was closest to victory in that section was Celta. Douvikas scored after a great play by Williot and Betis, with five forwards, found reward for their daring with a goal from a defender, Bartra. Football things. With everything lost, the tie tastes better for Betis, who played at times, without clarity and with too much lead in their legs. The team is somewhat dissolved and notices the absences, especially in the midfield. The point does not give him a place at the top. , let slip a triumph that he had in his hands. It was something naive.
2
Rui Silva, Natan, Youssouf Sabaly, Diego Llorente (Marc Bartra, min. 54), Romain Perraud, Sergi Altimira, Abde Ezzalzouli (Chimy Ávila, min. 85), Johnny Cardoso (Giovani Lo Celso, min. 55), Pablo Fornals (Juanmi, min. 74), Vitor Roque y Iker Losada (Cédric Bakambu, min. 85)
2
Vicente Guaita, Marcos Alonso, Carl Starfelt, Javi Rodríguez, Fran Beltrán, Óscar Mingueza (Hugo Álvarez, 57 min.), Hugo Sotelo (Javier Manquillo, 45 min.), Mihailo Ristic (Ilaix Moriba, 45 min.), Iago Aspas (Williot Swedberg, min. 78), Jonathan Bamba y Borja Iglesias (Tasos Douvikas, min. 66)
Goals
0-1 min. 12: Javi Rodríguez. 1-1 min. 39: Vitor Roque. 1-2 min. 81: Anastasios Douvikas. 2-2 min. 94: Bartra
Referee Miguel Angel Ortiz Arias
yellow cards
Johnny (min. 34), Souza (min. 83), Juanmi (min. 93)
Betis and Celta played a very mannered football in the first half. When this sport is played in such a predictable way and with such little rhythm, actions with speed and verticality are a real treasure. But that’s how things are. Clinging to the damned safety pass, both teams barely made any quality plays. Of course, with more reason for Celta, who found themselves with a goal out of nowhere in the 14th minute. Well, not exactly out of nowhere. Llorente made a weak clearance and Javi Rodríguez hit him with a volley inside the area so that the ball entered an impossible gap for Rui Silva. It was the only shot on goal by Celta in the entire first half. Giráldez’s team lost the ball again and again when starting from behind. Betis, difficult, with Losada and Vitor Roque as forwards, barely took advantage of the sterile bravery of the Galicians. Andalusian football was too predictable. Meanwhile, Lo Celso was waiting on the bench and Dani Ceballos was in Isco’s box, watching the game.
Of course everything changed in the last five minutes. Cardoso finally made a breakaway effort towards the area. He received a good pass from Abde and gave another to Vitor Roque, who finally pointed in the right direction. Betis tied and was still able to make it 2-1. This time, Vitor, who is a good striker, although we don’t know if he will become excellent, shot the dummy. Abde, in Losada’s pass after the rebound, sent her into the stands. The winger from Barcelona is another enigma. Maradona seems the same, as in the pass for Vitor’s goal, who despairs with other inexplicable actions.
Pellegrini deals with these elements. The Chilean played it. He removed his best player, Cardoso, with yellow, to bring on Lo Celso, who returned. , dissatisfied with what he had seen. The match was much more colorful, with both teams reaching the rival areas. Losada and, above all, Fornals had it, with a great shot against the crossbar. But Celta scored, taking advantage of the spaces that Betis left in the center of the field, very unprotected. Douvikas scored after a great play by Williot. And Aspas had been changed in the middle of the fight, but not Borja Iglesias, who was applauded. In the final push, with fortune and courage, Betis tied with a great shot by Bartra. From security pass to vertigo and tie. And everyone is almost happy.
