MATCH REPORT | Three vital points (1-0)
A goal scored by Bartra gave the team the win
Real Betis Balompié got the win tonight over RCD Espanyol in the debut of Alexis Trujillo at the helm of the Green and Whites. The team was superior to their rivals for most of the game and got the three points thanks to a goal scored by Marc Bartra in the beginning of the second half.
The first minutes showed the plot of what the game was going to be. Betis looked for the ball and tried to attack, while Espanyol waited really tidy in defence trying to launch quick counterattacks.
Betis had a couple of approaches early in the game, but not Mandi neither Iglesias found the target. The first dangerous chances came through Canales with a long-range effort that went just wide. The visitors replied with a free-kick shot by Embarba that Robles saved. Fekir also tried with a free-kick that López saved. A few minutes before half time, Calleri made a run alone towards the goal, but was denied by Mandi in the last second with a marvelous tackle.
The second half began without changes in any of the teams. In the first minute, Betis had the first through Emerson, but the Brazilian shot wide. It was the preamble of what happened two minutes later. Canales delivered a corner kick and Bartra rose above the defenders to nod the ball to the back of the net. Campuzano, on the other end, replied with a shot to the side netting two minutes later.
Betis wanted more and continued attacking, though. Fekir tried from distance and found a good save from López. Same result for Canales. Betis were at a good moment at this point, trying to score the second. Fekir again tested Espanyol's keeper, whose saves were keeping his team in the game.
The game went into the final minutes and Betis were still better than their rivals. However, the best chance in the game came for Wu Lei in the injury time. The Chinese striker, completely alone, shot but found a sensational save from Robles.
Real Betis Balompié:
Joel Robles, Emerson (Barragán 83'), Mandi, Bartra, Feddal, Pedraza (Álex
Moreno 91'), Guido Rodríguez, Guardado (Aleñá 91'), Canales, Fekir (William
Carvalho 80') y Borja Iglesias (Loren 80').
Goals: Bartra (48').
Booked: Guido Rodríguez (28'),
Pedraza (68'), Iglesias (76').
RCD Espanyol:
Diego López, Pipa (Víctor Gómez 79'), David López, Naldo, Pedrosa, Darder,
Iturraspe (Melendo 56'), Roca, Embarba (Melamed 79'), Campuzano (Raúl de Tomás
56') y Calleri (Wu Lei 56').
Booked: Pipa (10'), Pedrosa (35'),
Naldo (73'), Darder (78').
Referee: Juan Martínez Munuera.