Real Betis beat Real Sociedad (1-0) in the match on the second day of LaLiga EA Sports held at the La Cartuja Stadium in Seville, a league debut for both teams and an attractive give-and-take that the Betis won.
Manuel Pellegrini’s team was a priori a direct duel this season in the European zone thanks to Rodrigo Riquelme’s goal in the 63rd minute. Betis had been better in the first half, but Real reacted and, in a two-way clash, had its good options, especially since the entry of Mikel Oyarzabal.
The Betic team, with the momentum of La Cartuja, did not finish achieving this initial superiority with great chances or a goal. The pressure from Pellegrini’s team allowed the locals to get close to the rival goal, but they had to find a good shot from the poorly accompanied Cucho Hernández.
Betis won the battle in the center of the field with Pablo Fornals, Antony or Facundo Bernal and, in fact, had the clearest one in the first minute, when Riquelme failed to finish off a cross from the Brazilian. From there, Real, with the pending issue of defending better, worked hard behind, where it shined more than up, clearing the local centers.
The offensive game of the Basques consisted of balls to Orri Óskarsson, who had a good one after half an hour before the departure of Álvaro Valles, and the sparks of Take Kubo. Betis also tried from outside the area, with Antony or Bernal, but they rushed before finding greater inspiration for the goal.
The ‘Cucho’ had the first warning of a more open second half, back and forth, which could have fallen from either side. Pellegrino Matarazzo’s men responded with a double chance from Kubo and Jon Aramburu and, after half an hour, it was the turn of Isco and Oyarzabal, two heavyweights on both teams. Then, in a good combination, Betis made it 1-0 with a nice volley from Riquelme.
Isco then forgave the sentence and Sucic crashed into the post for Real. The Cup champion showed pride and was also able to tie with a very clear goal from Óskarsson, but Betis resisted the give and take between two teams, like many, with losses and pending market conditions, to celebrate the first three points after the permission of the first day of the World Cup.