Betis and Leverkusen leave for Germany a frenetic struggle

Much was expected of the duel between Betis and Bayer Leverkusen and Andalusians and Germans did not disappoint. In the clash between the two best teams in Group G of the Europa League there was almost everything: emotion, talent, moments of alternate dominance and also goals, although less than a fast-paced match deserved. They equaled the contenders with the goals of Borja Iglesias, from eleven meters, and Andrich, with a good dose of fortune, and with this they promised to extend an exciting fight against BayArena in two weeks.

With eight changes in the eleven of Betis with respect to the league duel against Alavés and six in Bayer Leverkusen in relation to the overwhelming defeat last weekend against Bayern Munich, the duel began with the unknown about the performance of two teams almost unpublished fruit of rotations. Diaby, one of the few heavyweights of the German team who endured in the starting team, soon became a headache for one of the Verdiblancos novelties, Montoya. The Catalan side suffered the unspeakable in front of the overflow and the speed of the French end. Alario had it after his umpteenth down the left and even the post saved Betis in a German free-kick from the right side of his attack.

Things looked ugly, without respite for Pellegrini’s men. Guido Rodríguez and William Carvalho were unable to control the game from possession in the midfield and without that pause in midfield Fekir languished. Hardly long balls and short possessions.

The fact is that Betis endured the initial arreón of the men of the aspirin and with it was stretching. He already controlled the development of events to a greater extent and even Joaquín had the goal in a deflected volley after taking advantage of a rejected ball in the stubbornness of Borja Iglesias. However, the clearest, very clear in fact, was from Ruibal, who hit her hard and high when it came to executing against Hradecky. The Finnish goalkeeper, who had saved as best he could a first attempt by ‘Panda’ Iglesias, declared himself defeated in the second but breathed before the unexpected forgiveness.

After the storm came calm and the game entered a valley phase, although with a better version of Betis, already without complexes against one of the coconuts of the Bundesliga. The break was approaching when Fekir and Borja Iglesias put on their dance shoes and gave a lesson on the use of the wall at the front of the area. The talented Franco-Algerian’s shot crashed between the defenseman’s legs before a volley from the Galician tip was lost over the German crossbar, in an action that ignited Villamarín’s spirits before the break.

The goals

On the way back from the dressing room, Betis gave Leverkusen back the hectic start, overtaken by the Andalusian push. Lainez’s entry gave Pellegrini an offensive plus. In fact, the Mexican forced Hradecky to intervene, also successful before another Ruibal auction. The Sevillian team was better and the Swiss of Spanish origin Seoane resorted to heavy artillery, giving an alternative to Wirtz and Shick. Nothing less than one of the candidates for the best young player in the world in 2021 and a top scorer in the Eurocup.

Not a few minutes had passed since the tactical move at Leverkusen when Canales fired a free-kick from the right side and Frimpong touched his hand between recklessness and bad luck, causing a penalty as clear as it was unnecessary. Borja Iglesias hit her with his heart from eleven meters and Sevilla verdiblanca exploded, with his team taking a giant step in Europe with a quarter of an hour remaining.

Local euphoria reigned, but the rival’s response lived up to its name. Diaby faked with a goal disallowed for offside and Andrich equalized, with the invaluable collaboration of William Carvalho after a shot that went out but was hopelessly poisoned for Bravo after hitting the Portuguese’s body. Despite the blow, Betis reassembled to fight for victory until the end, which ended up providing a draw with which the fight for first place was transferred to Germany.