Valencia seemed lost after Cucho’s goal in the final stretch of the game. The team from , which had played a remarkable game, saw that the three points were slipping away because they were unable to score in the last four games. The stands, full, as always, felt that this time it was not deserved, but then came a delicate hit from Luis Rioja that saved, at least, a draw (1-1) that was not enough for him and that now sees his last victory, on September 20, very far away.
1
Julen Agirrezabala, José Gayà (Jesús Vázquez, min. 76), César Tárrega, Thierry Correia, Copete, Pepelu (Baptiste Santamaría, min. 77), Arnaut Danjuma, Diego López (Luis Rioja, min. 67), André Almeida (Dani Raba, min. 76), Javi Guerra y Lucas Beltrán (Hugo Duro, min. 67)
1
Álvaro Valles, Valentín Gómez, Marc Bartra, Natan, Héctor Bellerín, Pablo Fornals, Antony, Sofyan Amrabat, Abde Ezzalzouli (Rodrigo Riquelme, min. 75), Giovani Lo Celso (Marc Roca, min. 76) and Cucho Hernández (Chimy Ávila, min. 91)
Goals
0-1 min. 73: Cucho Hernandez. 1-1 min. 81: Luis Rioja
Referee Victor García Verdura
yellow cards
Gayá (min. 23), Souza (min. 65), Pepelu (min. 68), Abde (min. 74), César Tárrega (min. 75), Valentín Gómez (min. 85)
Valencia suffered two fouls in the first three minutes of the game. A declaration of intent. And he showed again, except for a mistake by Copete that Abde wasted with the goal for him, the indispensable order in a team that intends to get out of the bottom of the classification. It seemed that, after weeks in which it had faded, the firm line of Carlos Corberán, yesterday a hero and today a coach in whom many now see the weaknesses of the late Rubén Baraja, was once again visible on the Mestalla tapestry.
The Cheste coach strengthened the midfield with Pepelu, who went down to the centre-backs to help get the ball out, Javi Guerra, a staple in this team, and André Almeida, who lubricated Valencia’s attacks in the first half, when, the most dangerous, the most individualistic as well, tore the Betic defense on the left wing, well supported by José Luis Gayá, the criticized captain, who played 45 extraordinary minutes.
Valencia, much more alive than in the last few days, came across the Sevillian Álvaro Valles, who made three providential stops – two to Danjuma and another to Diego López – that became the reward for a man who spent a blank year in Las Palmas because he wanted to return to Seville, and who, when he returned, started as Pau’s substitute. He never lost faith in his Betis and now, starting under the goal of his team, he grew against the blows of Valencia.
Manuel Pellegrini tried to tame Valencia with longer possessions, scrambling for the ball, but his rival, pressed by the urgency of qualifying, did not lose his spark and insisted in search of a victory that eluded him. Betis, even so, forgave two called goals. The Sevillian team came out determined to keep the ball after the restart and try to get in with Lo Celso, Abde and Cucho, the one who conveyed the most sense of threat. Valencia had more problems maintaining its verticality. Almeida faded away and only Diego López seemed to recover the joy he had lost this season. Then came Cucho’s goal, which seemed definitive, and the response shortly after from Luis Rioja.
