The Espanyolagain with the Mexican César Montes as a starter in the center of the rear won 1-0 at Betis of his compatriot Andrés Guardado with a goal from the Danish Martin Braithwaite in the first half, he chained two wins for the first time this season and reached 20 points, moving away from the feared relegation zone that he occupied just two days ago.
In addition, with this victory they broke the streak of nine games in a row without beating Betis. The last time Espanyol achieved this was on October 30, 2017, when they won 1-0 with a goal from Gerard Moreno. With this defeat, the Andalusian team continues with its losing streak after being knocked out of the Spanish Super Cup and the Copa del Rey against Barcelona and Osasuna in separate penalty shootouts.
The first notice came from the local team. The 5th minute of the match had not yet been completed when the Uruguayan Leandro Cabrera headed in a corner kick to hit the crossbar against a Chilean Claudio Bravo that he could only look at the trajectory of the ball.
Betis’s response did not come until minute 19, when a combinative play on the left wing came to fruition that ended with a filtered ball from the Portuguese William Carvalho for the Brazilian Luiz Henrique, who finished high from a forced position and with little angle inside the area.
But the blue and white team was the author of the clearest scoring chances. In minute 25, Bravo had to get bigger before Martin Braithwaite’s shot from inside the small area after a poisoned cross from his partner at the tip of the attack, Joselu. And the same Braithwaite, in a similar play, although this time at the center of Brian Olivánmade it 1-0 in minute 44when the rest was already appearing.
In the previous game against Espanyol, Borja Iglesias had the opportunity to put Betis ahead. But his header was neutralized with a great save by Álvaro Fernández, who has established himself in the goal of Diego Martínez’s team after doubts at the start of the season.
Espanyol and Betis They arrived at the match after being eliminated in the round of 16 of the Copa del Rey during the week. The Blue and Whites lost 1-0 against Athletic Club in San Mamés and the Verdiblancos lost in a penalty shootout against Osasuna at the Benito Villamarín after the 2-2 result at the end of extra time.
Those thirty minutes of added physical exhaustion took their toll on Betis at the RCDE Stadium despite the fact that Manuel Pellegrini made five changes compared to the eleven in the Cup. , suffered.
The most surprising novelty at Betis was the ownership of the Brazilian left-back Abner Vinicius, who made his debut with the Verdiblanco team despite being signed just six days ago. In the center of the field, Andrés Guardado returned after serving a suspension in the Cup.
Diego Martínez also rotated the squad, who only made one change compared to the match in Getafe, the return of Oliván on the left side after serving a suspension in the League, but five compared to the Cup eleven against Athletic Club.
The second part at the RCDE Stadium It started with a new scare for Betis. Aleix Vidal finished off inside the area to make it 2-0 in the 50th minute, but referee González Fuertes canceled the goal due to a dubious prior foul by Javi Puado on Aitor Ruibal, a fact that inflamed the spirits of the local supporters.
The situation did not change the dynamics of the meeting and Espanyol continued to dominate the rhythm of a game that once again was about to end, in minute 64 through a ball that reached Puado inside the area with Bravo already beaten and unopposed. But the 24-year-old footballer was not able to hit the ball when the stadium was already singing the goal.
In the last quarter of an hour of the match, Betis went up and with the additions of Rodri and Joaquín Sánchez to the field of play, they disturbed the local defense from the wings, although without managing to create any real danger. A) Yes, the blue and white victory was confirmed by the minimum and Manuel Pellegrini’s men can finish the day outside the European zone.
