Real Betis’ positive streak ended today in Bilbao. The team faced today a team that was very solid and blocked all the options tried by the men managed by Juan Merino. Sabin Merino, twice, and Mikel Rico gave advantage to their team before the 50^th minute. Rubén Castro scored for Betis just before the final whistle.

The game started off on a pitch in very bad conditions due to the intense rain that fell during this week. Merino chose a classic 4-4-2 formation, with Montoya acting as left back. Since the very beginning, Athletic Club showed its intentions to take the game and went for the goal since the first minute. The first instants went by without fluidity in the plays.

After the first 15 minutes, Athletic lost some of the initial push, but still was the team in charge. Almost all of the gameplay was happening in Betis’ side of the pitch. The home team put on a lot of pressure, and the Green-and-Whites were struggling to send balls to the attacking line. However, the first clear chance was for Betis. Petros sent a good low cross to the Rubén Castro, whose shot went high.

In spite of that chance, Athletic Club took advantage in the score after the first half an hour. San José received the ball in the midfield without opposition. He turned around and gave a great long pass to the back of the defence. There, Sabin Merino controlled with his chest and out the ball past Adán. After that first goal, Betis tried to move its lines forward and tried to attack more, but Athletic’s full backs were marking Musonda and Joaquín very closely, and Petros and N’Diaye were overwhelmed in the midfield.

Two minutes before half time, the home team doubled its advantage. A play on the right wing that ended with a cross to the box. After a couple of rebounds, Rico connected a sensational volley that went in after hitting the near post. At the break, Betis needed to make some changes in order to turn things around in the second half.

Nonetheless, Athletic increased the difference in the score son after the beginning of the second period. After a corner kick, Rico shot with violence from distance, but Adán made a good save. However, the ball fell to Sabin Merino’s feet, and the striker just had to tap it in. A very hard blow to Betis intentions, as the score was now too big to comeback.

Betis tried to go on attack with the intention to improve their image. Athletic, on the other end, controlled the timing of the game and was creating a lot of danger in counterattacks. In one of those chances, Aduriz was faster than Bruno and gave a backpass to Muniain, but his tame effort was easy for Adán.

Five minutes before the end, Betis finally scored. The play began with a shot by Rubén Castro that hit the post and ended in corner-kick. In that set play, the striker headed the ball in to make up the score.

Athletic Club: Iraizoz, Bóveda, Lekue, Laporte (Etxeita 80), Gurpegi, San José, Rico, Raúl García (Aduriz 64), Susaeta, Sabin Merino y Muniain (Elustondo 67).
Goals: Sabin Merino 34 and 49, Rico 40.
Booked: Raúl García 20.

Real Betis Balompié: Adán, Montoya, Pezzella, Bruno, Molinero (Cejudo 80), N’Diaye, Petros (Dani Ceballos 50), Joaquín, Musonda, Jorge Molina (Fabián 50) y Rubén Castro.
Goals: Rubén Castro 84.