MATCH REPORT | An insufficient point (1-1)

The team tried until the end

Real Betis Balompié tied tonight against RCD Espanyol. The team was superior to the rival but again a mistake in a pass gave a goal away to the rival. The team tried with everything during the whole second half and scored in the injury thanks to Feddal.

The first chance of the match came just after the start. Jesé received a long ball on the left and crossed towards Lo Celso, who dribbled and passed the ball to Canales, whose shot was blocked by a defender over the line. The rebound fell for Joaquín, but the captain was denied by a rival as well. Betis had started well and tried to attack from the very beginning.

After ten minutes of high pressing, Espanyol started to fight for the possession. They had a couple of attacking plays but with no shots on goal. Their first came in the 18th, with an effort from Lluís in the far post to which Robles responded in great form. The pace of the match started to slow down a bit, with imprecisions from the two sides.

A good play by Joaquín on the right set up an effort from Lo Celso that went wide. The Argentine tried again after a phenomenal personal play, but his curled effort was saved by Diego López. However, Espanyol hit first. A bad pass from Canales left Iglesias alone in front of Robles. He dribbled past the keeper but his shot was deflected over the line by Mandi. Iglesias got the rebound and assisted Darder, who smashed the ball into an empty goal.

Three minutes into the second half and Canales had the first with a free kick that went over the bar. Espanyol replied with a good counterattack that wasn't goal due to a sensational save from Robles. Canales, again, had the best so far for the Gr5een and Whites. Great cross from mandi and the midfielder, unmarked inside the box, headed the ball over the bar.

The away team scored a second goal through Iglesias, but it was disallowed for offside. The VAR checked the play and confirmed the decision. The next one was for Betis. Guardado missed the target but not for much. The team was attacking now more while the rivals waited in defence and tried to counterattack when stealing the ball. Betis was now monopolising the ball and attacking all the time but lacked depth.

Tello tried with a free kick from just outside the box, but Diego López was well placed and blocked the shot. The next one was for Loren, just ten minutes before the end, with a shot from outside the box that the keeper blocked. From a similar position tried Lainez a couple of minutes later, missing the target just by the post. Betis continued play after play trying to get a goal. Guardado produced a powerful shot from outside the box that Diego López deflected with his fists.

With time running out, Espanyol players were constantly dropping to the floor and trying other ways to waste time. In the 3rd minute of the injury time, Lo Celso delivered a good cross to the far post where Feddal, acting now as striker, volleyed the ball into the roof of the net. There wasn't time for anything else and Real Betis rescued a point.

 

Real Betis Balompié: Joel Robles, Joaquín, Mandi (Lainez 76'), Bartra, Feddal, Junior, Guardado, Kaptoum, Canales (Loren 65'), Lo Celso, Jesé (Tello 56').
Goals: Feddal (93').
Booked:
Mandi (58'), Feddal (65'), Junior (78').

RCD Espanyol: Diego López, Javi López, Duarte, Lluís, Hermoso, Pedrosa, Víctor Sánchez, Roca, Darder (Álex López 86'), Melendo (Wu Lei 74'), Iglesias (Ferreyra 79').
Goals:
Darder (37').
Booked:
Melendo (67').

Referee: Carlos del Cerro Grande.