MATCH REPORT | A good performance in spite of the defeat (1-0)
Gaitán scored the only goal
Real Betis Balompié could not bid farewell to Vicente Calderón Stadium, stage of some of the best moments in the Green-and-Whites history. The team played a very intense a complete game, and was fighting for the points until the very last end, but it couldn’t be. A goal scored by Gaitán in the 8th minute after a defensive mistake decided the match.
The team began the game with some changes in the eleven, mainly due to the different players out due to bans or injuries. Brasanac and Alegría replaced Petros and Sanabria, and Donk played in defence. The first minutes went by in equal conditions, until an early goal changed the game. A cross delivered from the right by Vrsaljko, Donk fails to clear the ball and, instead, creates an assists to the far post. There, Gaitán tapped the ball in.
The goal harmed Betis and was beneficial to Atlético, that continued to attack with eagerness. Real Betis was forced at this stage to send long balls. Step by step, Betis shook all the pressure off and started to have longer possessions. When the team managed to move the ball around quickly, Atlético looked startled an out of place. However, their counterattacks were dangerous.
The best in the first half came after a good pressure made at the same time by Durmisi and Rubén Castro. The Danish got the ball and passed it to the striker, whose shot was blocked by Moyá. At half time, the game was really even except for the score, and Betis had gone for more. The second half began in a very similar way. Real Betis was having more possession and was attacking more than the rival. On the other side, the team managed by Simeone was using its signature assets: high pressure and counterattacks. The first chance was for Betis in a free-kick delivered by Rubén Castro and stopped by Moyá. Atlético replied with a long run by Torres and a good save by Adán.
As minutes went by, Betis continued to improve. The ball was almost all the time in Atlético’s side of the pitch, but the team was lacking efficiency. Víctor Sánchez moved the bench and introduced tow offensive changes, as Joaquín and Nahuel replaced Brasanac and José Carlos. The game broke up and it was completely open in the last 15 minutes. However, none of the teams scored and the three points stayed tonight at Madrid.
Club Atlético de Madrid: Moyá, Vrsaljko, Godín, Savic, Filipe Luis, Gabi, Koke, Saúl, Gaitán (Carrasco 63), Griezmann (Giménez 92) y Torres (Gameiro 69).
Goal: Gaitán (8).
Real Betis Balompié: Adán, Piccini, Pezzella, Donk, José Carlos (Nahuel 69), Durmisi, Brasanac (Joaquín 65), Dani Ceballos, Jonas Martin, Álex Alegría (Zozulia 81) y Rubén Castro.
Booked: Piccini (60’), Alegría (79), Ceballos (89).