MATCH REPORT | Not the return we wanted (2-0)

Real Betis lost the derby

Real Betis Balompié lost the derby tonight. In a really poor performance, the Green and Whites were beaten by their rivals. A quite controversial penalty gave Sevilla the lead. The team did not take the goal well and soon came the second. Betis improved and tried untl the end, but did nothing positive.

Three months later after the suspension of LaLiga due to the coronavirus pandemic, the competition resumed tonight with The Game. The biggest derby. El Gran Derbi. Many changes were made for this return, as all the games are played behind closed doors. Also, the teams can call up 23 players and make five substitutions. In this new and strange atmosphere, the match kicked off at Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán Stadium.

The game started with the hosts trying to control the ball against a strong pressing from the Green and Whites. Just before the 10th minute, the first chance came and it was for Sevilla. Ocampos produced a powerful shot that hit the woodwork. Betis wanted to have the ball for longer now, but some plays were a bit frantic. Koundé headed a cross from a corner-kick wide. The game was quite even halfway the first half, though.

The next chance came again for the home side, and again with a header that went wide, this time from De Jong. Sevilla had regained the possession and Real Betis were trying to elaborate longer plays to compensate this. The first for Betis came in trough Canales with a long-range effort that went over the bar. Just before half time, Robles deflected a shot from Ocampos.

The game resumed after the break with one change for the Béticos. Zou Feddal came on and Sidnei did not return to the pitch. An early chance for Sevilla ended up in a save by Robles. The most evident so far in the game. Betis had come on the pitch again with a better pace, but Sevilla were creating more danger.

In the 53rd minute, the referee whistled for penalty for a foul made by Bartra on De Jong. Ocampos did not miss from the spot. Betis did not react well to the goal. In fact, a few minutes later, Sevilla made the second after a corner-kick. The best play made by Betis came in the 68th minute. A long, elaborated play that ended with a header by Iglesias that went wide.

Betis had improved in the final stage of the game, with more ball possessions and chances, but none of them accurate enough. The team kept trying, but it was more a matter of will power than football. Bartra was also with cramps, but there were not changes left. Nothing else happened and the game ended not the way we wanted.

 

Sevilla FC: Vaclik, Navas, Diego Carlos, Koundé, Reguilón (Escudero 80'), Fernando, Jordán, Óliver Torres (Vázquez 80'), Ocampos (Banega 70'), Munir (Suso 74'), De Jong (En-Nesyri 70').
Goals:
Ocampos, p. (55'), Fernando (61').

 Real Betis Balompié: Joel Robles, Emerson, Bartra, Sidnei (Feddal 46'), Álex Moreno (Pedraza 78'), Guido Rodríguez, Aleñá (Joaquín 68'), Canales, Fekir, Tello (Lainez 60'), Borja Iglesias (Loren 68').
Booked:
Emerson (48'),

Referee: Antonio Miguel Mateu Lahoz.