Silence fell in La Cartuja three minutes into the game between Betis and Utrecht. In a fortuitous and bizarre action, they collided on the edge of the Dutch team’s area. Amrabat hit Isco’s right ankle, who was thrown into the air. Both were injured and had to leave the field before 10 minutes into the game. Three days before the derby against Sevilla, Betis, with Lo Celso injured and Antony suspended, the Betis team can reach the derby without Isco and without Amrabat. According to the data provided by analyst Fran Martínez, never in the history of a First Division team have two players from the same team injured themselves and been substituted at such an early stage of a game.
2
1
Goals 1-0 min. 42: Cucho Hernandez. 2-0 min. 50: Abde. 2-1 min. 54: Miguel Rodriguez.
Arbitrator Nenad Minakovic
yellow cards Alonzo Engwanda (min. 67) and Ricardo Rodríguez (min. 86)
“Isco, in a first assessment, has a strong contusion and a wound at the level of the tibia in his right leg. Tomorrow – today, Friday – he will undergo tests,” the green and white club reported. “Amrabat has a strong blow at the same height as his right leg,” Amrabat said. More emphatic was the coach, Manuel Pellegrini, who ruled out the presence of the Betis star in Sunday’s derby, as well as that of Amrabat. “It was a very eventful match. It is incredible what happened between Isco and Amrabat. Neither Isco nor Amrabat will arrive for Sunday. Isco’s ankle was very bad, with stitches. The important thing is that after the medical tests the injury is not serious,” highlighted the Green and White coach.
The unfortunate play marked the game. It was difficult for the Betic team to recover from the loss of two of its fundamental players. The clash went cold and Utrecht took advantage of it, which came in danger in an action by the fast El Karouani. He saved Valles and Betis was rebuilding its figure. Above all, thanks to Fornals’ game. A good action by Antony made it possible for Cucho to make the score 1-0. The Colombian had already warned in a great play, which Van der Hoorn saved.
Everything seemed ready in the 50th minute, when Abde scored the second goal after a great team play by Betis. They drew two excellent actions, culminated with the good shot of the Moroccan to make it 2-0. But if the Betic’s shot was good, the one from Miguel Rodríguez, a Spanish player from Utrecht who scored a great goal from the center of the field that surprised Valles, was exceptional. Betis kept the 2-1 scoreline, and with 11 points they are among the top eight in the Europa League, which goes directly to the round of 16 of the competition.
“It is an important victory and winning it before the derby gives us a lot of confidence. I am very sad about the expulsion the other day against Girona, I had no intention of hitting the rival. This week was very hard because it hurts me not to play the most important game of the year”, . “What happened between Isco and Amrabat was a very strange move. I hope it’s not serious and that both of them can play in the derby,” said the Brazilian. Betis has seen how the Competition and Appeal committees have rejected the allegations presented by the red card to Antony, who was banned for one match. The Betic club will go to the Spanish Sports Disciplinary Committee this Friday, requesting the precautionary suspension of its player’s sanction so that he can play in the derby.
“Hopefully it will be as little as possible for both of us. Amrabat is harder than a rock, everyone who passes by him takes it. In football, new things always happen. It is incredible what has happened,” Fornals clarified about the injuries of his teammates.
