If he starts scoring, he ends up winning. Espanyol made good against Betis (1-0) a rule that had already been applied against Athletic, Valladolid and Getafe. The white-and-blues have suffered bravely to secure, 15 months later, the second consecutive victory in the League, which gives the white-and-blues air in their goal of permanence. A prestigious triumph against a level rival like Betis, despite suffering an unfortunate refereeing, which should give even more impetus to the white-and-blues.
The hangover from the Cup, from which both clubs have been eliminated this week, has taken a greater mental and physical toll on Betis than it has on Espanyol, who have taken to the pitch with one more boost. The Andalusians have had more possession, but their movements, almost always slow, have not managed to do too much damage to a Spaniard who has rearranged his midfield from a 4-4-2. Darder and Vinicius multiplied inside while both ends helped the full-backs. Betis has often reached the opponent’s front, especially in the second half, but has not been able to go further.
The white-and-blues are still determined to show that they are not the same team that competed, with more obstacles than skill, during the first 14 days of the League. It’s been a few weeks since he stopped conceding absurd goals to rivals, an essential requirement to win with some continuity. The stoppage for the World Cup has been good for the whole team, but especially for two names quite questioned in the initial part of the course due to some flagrant mistakes committed. Cabrera has recovered his most reliable version coinciding with the arrival of a César Montes who has revitalized the solidity of the defense. The Uruguayan, in addition, had to touch the first in a shot with the head of the crossbar.
Álvaro Fernández, for his part, has once again been key under the posts. He hasn’t had a lot of work, but he has had interventions of merit such as the hand he took away from Borja Iglesias shortly before the break. Afterwards, Cabrera took the ball under the posts, starting the counter-attack that led to Espanyol’s goal a minute later. Braithwaite didn’t waste a great assist from Brian Oliván and was back in goal on the day he had paid tribute to his Chinese great-grandfather, Chan, coinciding with the Chinese New Year celebration. It took 18 games for Espanyol to go into the break with an advantage on the scoreboard.
The white-and-blues started the second half as they ended the first, scoring a goal, but it was not added to the scoreboard due to a controversial refereeing decision. Gonzàlez Fuertes pointed out as missing a slight contact of Puado’s arm in the face of Ruibal, who had previously been holding him and ended up putting more bread than cheese. Puado, soon after, forgave the second by wasting a golden assist from Darder when he only had to push the ball into the back of the net.
Espanyol, which has not given up looking for the second, has forgiven and ended up suffering. While González Fuertes continued to derange the RCDE Stadium by whistling incomprehensible fouls and forgiving clear ones, Betis took the opportunity to take a step forward and start to wear down Diego Martínez’s team, who were able to resist. The white-and-blues breathe after adding three golden points in a match preceded by a fight between fans of the two clubs that ended with two supporters hospitalised.
