With the inclusion of Rennella and Molina together in the front line Merino sent out a clear message. Real Betis is not going to tiptoe through a return match in which we have a chance, but the comeback was complicated because we had to win with a difference of two goals. Precisely for this reason, Betis played an organised game without giving way to the danger created by Almería as possession was with the home team.

There were no scoring opportunities in the first act. Set pieces were the best weapon for the green-and-whites as they showed in the 8th minute of the match when Perquis headed on the ball which Molina tried shoot at goal on the far post. The play was annulled for offside. Betis was well positioned on the pitch, the red and white play combinations did not put any pressure on Dani Giménez but individual plays by Wellington Silva and Thievy did cause some concern. It is true that the plays by both teams did not come too much but continuous line breaks into the three-quarter area of the pitch forced Betis to pull back.

This movement caused Molina and Rennella to stay up front very isolated and had to play every divided ball. Still, Rennella got in a shot that was cleared for a corner by Julian after a steal by Molina and pass to Dani Ceballos. Thievy replied with a similar play. His shot also missed its mark. A lot of respect by both teams not to score a goal. The first half finished with a good piece of play by Dani Ceballos, a magnificent pass to Xavi Torres who wasn't able to do anything because the linesman lifted his flag. An action in which the midfielder was not in illegal position.

The second half opened with many interruptions, and substitutions, which is customary in Merino. Rubén Castro and Cejudo came on for Rennella and Ceballos. There was no time to see the reaction in Betis' game because Almería went ahead on the scoreboard. A dead ball situation and a strategic piece of play, Michel put his team ahead in the 13th minute. That made the match even more complicated. Merino sent Pacheco into the fray in place of Kadir and while Jordi Figueras header didn't have the strength off a corner taken by Kadir just before he left the field of play.

Betis could not impose the pace they wanted in the match and Almería did not need to accelerate anything. Pacheco tried on the right wing but he didn't find a connection in the final meters. When was most in control Betis the second was scored. Zongo invented a right-footed shot from midfield that slipped into Dani's goal. A major blow but no matter the outcome, Betis kept trying. In the 32nd minute, Pacheco took a free kick that made it difficult for Julian who cleared for a corner. Again, Pacheco took the ball and his shot was the origin of Perquis' goal, who scored with a powerful shot after a pass from Piccini.

When it went into injury time, Molina should have got a penalty in an encounter with Julian. Ruben had a go but his shot went over the crossbar and the referee whistled the end of the game. Real Betis is eliminated from the King's Cup and are already thinking about the game against Racing de Santander and getting closer to finishing the year with four straight wins in the league.

2- UD Almería (2): Julián Cuesta, Míchel, Trujillo, Mauro, Mané, Verza (Quique, minute 66), Corona, Azeez, Wellington (Teerasil, minute 66), Thievy and Zongo.

1- Real Betis (1): Dani Giménez, Piccini, Perquis, Jordi Figueras, Casado, Xavi Torres, Lolo Reyes, Dani Ceballos (Cejudo, minute 56), Kadir (Dani Pacheco, minute 62), Rennella (Rubén Castro, minute 56) and Jorge Molina.

Goals: 1-0, 58th minute: Michel. 2-0, 74th minute: Zongo. 2-1 78th minute: Perquis.

Referee: Velasco Carballo, Madrid. Bookings for Míchel, Thievy, Perquis, Piccini, Trujillo and Corona.