Madrid, reduced in intensity and with serious problems in defense, allowed itself to be tied by a Betis that was better for most of the game in La Cartuja. Héctor Bellerín, with his goal in the 94th minute, made the Andalusian fans explode with joy and left a Madrid without goals that was only worthy of its potential and greatness in the first half hour of the match. That’s when he came forward. Only then did he command the meeting. From that half hour of play onwards, Madrid was a pain. They literally came to nothing, surpassed by a Betis team that had chances to even win the game. It is true that Madrid was able to achieve a 0-2 lead in the final stretch in two clear counterattacks, but it is also true that they are a team with serious disconnections, where it is clear that the season has already ended. Lunin kept the score at 0-1 for too many minutes. Madrid pulled the plug, now eight points behind Barcelona with the Catalans having a game less. Year to forget.
1
Álvaro Valles, Héctor Bellerín, Ricardo Rodríguez, Marc Bartra (Diego Llorente, 31 min.), Natan, Antony, Pablo Fornals (Giovani Lo Celso, 67 min.), Sofyan Amrabat (Isco, 72 min.), Álvaro Fidalgo (Marc Roca, 45 min.), Cézz Edric and Cézz Bambu. (Cucho Hernández, min. 45)
1
Andrii Lunin, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dean Huijsen (David Alaba, min. 72), Antonio Rüdiger, Ferland Mendy, Thiago Pitarch (Eduardo Camavinga, min. 72), Jude Bellingham, Brahim Díaz (Manuel Ángel, min. 81), Federico Valverde, Vinícius Júnior and Kylian Mbappé (Gonzalo García, min. 80)
Goals
0-1 min. 16: Vinicius Junior. 1-1 min. 93: Hector Bellerín
Referee César Soto Grado
yellow cards
Amrabat (min. 37), Huijsen (min. 39), Trent Alexander-Arnold (min. 71)
Álvaro Arbeola was facing the final stretch of the League and was looking for a balance that would make his team more competitive. At the same time, he taught that he is a coach who makes decisions. That is why he kept Trent on the right side after a week full of statements, messages of little finesse and some tension between the coach. But he also gave the title to Thiago in the midst of a debate about the role of the youth team in an entity that has won five Champions Leagues in the last decade. While the controversy was brewing, Madrid faced a somewhat atypical match in La Cartuja, in a Seville dedicated to its Fair and against a Betis that had just broken its losing streak of seven games without winning with its victory in Girona and the return of the long-awaited Isco.
Wrapped up, therefore, in that vital reflection, in the final stretch of the season, there are aspects that still maintain Madrid’s greatness. The names, for example, of Mbappé, Vinicius, Bellingham or Valverde, are enough to stand up to any stage in the League.
Betis was too daring in its approach. Without defensive capacity in the center of the field, Arbeloa’s men were fine in the game between the lines. At home, only Amrabat defended and Madrid did something interesting. Valverde played as a pivot and. The youth player and also Bellingham destroyed the Andalusian defensive system. Mbappé accumulated two dangerous attempts and in the 17th minute Valles cleared a shot and converted it into a goal. There were moments of panic in La Cartuja, with Madrid loose, with good football and continuous arrivals at the Betic area. But there is something false in Madrid’s game. As soon as Betis pressed and got rid of their complexes a little, Madrid’s defensive system creaked. In the final stretch of the first act, Lunin became Madrid’s hero. His save on Antony in the 44th minute was spectacular. The goalkeeper still saved against Bakambu and then did the same against Antony. Madrid disappeared when it was at its best.
Madrid had a flash in the 54th minute, when Mbappé’s goal was disallowed for offside. Betis evolved again to take control of the match against a Madrid that offered a disconcerting image. In the 59th minute, Valverde forced an absurd corner kick and his teammates seemed to disconnect. There was no longer a game between the lines. Neither Bellingham nor Thiago appeared anymore. Betis, activated with the changes of Roca and Cucho, took control of the match. , the one who saved Madrid with a great save against Cucho. Madrid was not fueled, suffering a lot in defense.
Pellegrini put his entire arsenal on the field. With Lo Celso and Isco as the main weapons to achieve the tie. The field collapsed with the entry of an Isco who assumed honors from the beginning. Madrid had some counterattacking action, well solved by Valles. He left the field, possibly a little hurt. Betis continued and continued to insist, until they found their reward in the 94th minute. It was 1-1. It’s over. Madrid will have to think now, obviously, about its new project.
