Real Betis Balompié could not start the New Year with a victory and was defeated by SD Eibar. The team managed by Mendilíbar played a very serious match and was superior to the home team in every sense. An early goal from Capa gave advantage to the away team, which closed the score with a superb strike from Borja Bastón.

Since the very beginning the match went against Real Betis. In the 3^rd minute, SD Eibar started a play on the right wing with a combination of passes between Capa and Enrich. The latter gave an inner pass to Capa, whose shot was deflected by Pezzella and went into the goal. This goal was a hard blow for Real Betis. The team tried to gain ball possession but was struggling to create plays.

The home team had a good chance to score in a free-kick shot by Vargas. His cross was bending in but N’Diaye could not connect a good header. Figueras was just behind the French-Senegalese player, and was in better position to shoot. In the 17^th minute came the second for SD Eibar, though. A counterattack again on the right side that ended with a good cross by Enrich. Keko, completely off mark, received the ball in the far post and connected a volley that could not be saved by Adán.

This second goal knocked Real Betis out. The team could not create plays. Mainly because of the lack of pace of their passes and the inability to open spaces. Most of the plays died out before reaching the opposite box. Meanwhile, SD Eibar was pressing up in Real Betis’ side of the field and was using any ball steal to start a counterattack. However, the Green-and-White side could have gotten itself into the match again. A good pass combination between Cejudo and Molinero on the right wing with a low cross from the right back. Rubén Castro controlled the ball but his shot was fantastically saved by Riesgo.

Real Betis started the second half in a better way, trying to go forward and level up the score. Just after the starting whistle Vargas started a set piece. Pezzella headed the ball but Riesgo caught it without trouble. In spite of this early push, the match continued in the same way as it had ended the first period. Real Betis was very imprecise moving the ball around, and SD Eibar was very comfortable on the pitch.

In the 57th minute, Cejudo started a counterattack accompanied by Rubén Castro and Molina. The winger decided to finish the play himself, though, and his shot went wide. This was a very polemic play because Inui made a clear foul at the beginning of the play to stop the counterattack, but the referee let the play continue. Nonetheless, the umpire did not show a yellow card to the Japanese player, which would have meant him to be sent off.

The match ended not long afterwards when SD Eibar scored the third after a counterattack perfectly executed. Keko gave the ball to Capa, and his cross was tapped in by Adrián. This goal left the players low-headed, unable to react. On the other hand, every counterattack made by SD Eibar was very dangerous. In this way came the fourth for the away team.  A long ball controlled with the chest by Borja Bastón. The striker then shot a screamer that went in by the top right corner.

In this way ended a match to forget for Real Betis Balompié. The team now needs to forget this defeat and be ready for the derby in Copa del Rey next Wednesday.

Real Betis Balompié: Adán, Molinero, Pezzella, Figueras (Kadir 69’), Vargas, Cejudo, Petros, N’Diaye, Vadillo (Jorge Molina 46’), Dani Ceballos (Portillo 80’), Rubén Castro.
Booked: Figueras 16, Vargas 34, J. Molina 58, Rubén Castro 92.

SD Eibar: Riesgo, Pantic, Ramis, Luna, Escalante, Capa, Inui (Saúl Berjón 61’), Keko Gontán, Adrián, Dani García (Silvestre 82’), Enrich (Borja Bastón 75’).
Goals: Capa 3, Keko 17. Adrián 70, Borja Bastón 82.
Booked: Inui 13, Adrián 61, Luna 66.