In the first match of Match 13 in Liga BBVA, Real Betis continued with its impressive streak playing away. The team got the three points today in a very even and intense match against Levante UD in Ciudad de Valencia Stadium. For yet another week, Rubén Castro scored and made possible for the Green-and-White side to return to Seville with another victory. The team also had to play the last 12 minutes with one man less after Westermann saw a second yellow card and had to leave the game.

Today, the plot changed compared to the previous matches and was Betis the team that scored just at the beginning. Joaquín gave a short pass to Rubén Castro in a corner kick. Number ‘24’ gave the ball back to Joaquín who dribbled a defender and returned the ball to the striker. Then, Castro sent a fantastic curved strike away from the reach of keeper Rubén. The ball went in very close to the far post. A great effort from Castro.

Just five minutes after the goal, Levante UD had a fantastic chance to level the score up. Bruno missed a back pass and Verza run towards the goal completely alone. He lobbed the ball over Adán but hit the post. The rebound fell to the feet of Deyverson who, 3 yards away from the goal line and with no opposition, sent the ball to the crossbar. In spite of this chance, it was Betis the team that was in control of the ball. The team was pressing up high and Levante was unable to create plays. Also, the talent of Dani Ceballos, who completed a very good first half, was allowing Real Betis to play at ease and launch counterattacks. In this way, Castro could have made his second goal of the evening but Rubén made a great save to his shot.

Levante UD went gradually advancing its lines and attacking more. The last fifteen minutes of the first half were in Levante’s control. However, the home team was only sending crosses into the box, all of them cleared by Real Betis’ defensive line. The referee then whistled for half time after a very pacey and intense 45 minutes.

The beginning of the second half was very much alike the end of the first. Betis tried to play with the times of the match, and was defending well and waiting to counterattack. Nonetheless, in the 55^th minute, Deyverson received the ball inside the box after a mistake from the Green-and-White defenders and shot, again, the ball into the crossbar. Just three minutes after, another mistake, this time in the other end of the field, and Rubén Castro had a chance to score, but Rubén made a good save.

The match became much less fluid than in the previous moments. Levante UD made offensive changes trying to tie the score, and step by step, took Betis box under siege. Real Betis still enjoyed a couple of good chances though. After a great combination of passes, Varela shot but the ball was deflected into corner kick. On the other hand, Levante was trying eagerly, but they didn’t shot on goal in all the remaining minutes.

The bad news came for Real Betis in the 79^th minute. The referee decided to send Westermann off after a very strict decision, as the tackle from the German seemed to be clean.  However, Real Betis was capable of maintaining the score. At the final whistle, a good three points to face the upcoming week, in which Betis has to play against Real Sporting de Gijon in Copa del Rey on Wednesday and against RC Celta de Vigo on Saturday.

Levante UD: Rubén, Pedro López, David Navarro, Feddal, Toño, Simao, Camarasa, J. Morales, Verza, Rubén García, Deyverson.
Booked: Deyverson 14, Verza 44, Feddal 65, Roger 71, Pedro López 78.
Sent-off: Juanfran (bench) 81.

Real Betis Balompié: Adán, Piccini, Bruno, Westermann, Varela, N’Diaye, Petros, Cejudo, Joaquín, Dani Ceballos, Rubén Castro.
Goals: Rubén Castro 4.
Booked: Cejudo 14, N’Diaye 37, Westermann 48 and 79, Varela 79, Adán 93.
Sent-off: Westermann 79.