Today, Real Betis finally broke the negative streak of matches in arrow losing at home. The team drew against Real Celta de Vigo. On a negative note, the reward may seem a little bit small after the face shown by the team throughout the 90 minutes, in which it was fairly superior to its rival. Bongonda scored in the first half in the only shot on goal from the visiting team, that play a big part of the second half with just ten men. When the match was in the final moments, Molina leveled up the score.

Real Betis hosted today one of the teams in better form of La Liga. The team managed by Berizzo has performed very well so far in the season. However, today they struggled in Benito Villamarín Stadium. The initial moments of the match were quite even. None of the teams were having possession nor creating chances. After 15 minutes the plot started to change and Betis began to be in charge of the game. In the 22nd minute came the first chance on goal. A free kick started by Joaquín into the heart of the box. After a couple of rebounds, the ball fell to Cejudo’s feet but his effort was deflected by keeper Sergio. In the following play, though, Real Celta de Vigo launched a quick counterattack. Nolito got the ball near the box and gave a spectacular pass to Bongonda who put the ball past Dani Giménez.

In spite of this bad news, Real Betis reacted immediately. Spurred forward by the fans, the team tried to revert the situation straight away. The whole team moved its lines forward and went eagerly for the draw. Nonetheless, it was unable to create clear chances. Only in 4th, Betis was close to score. Piccini sent a cross from the right wing and Rubén Castro headed the ball wide.

Just after half time, the match changed completely. Petros stole the ball from Jonny near Celta’s box and was running towards the goal without opposition when Jonny grabbed him and made him fall. The referee showed the defender a straight red card. In that free kick, Joaquín hit the ball into the post. It was the first sign from Betis, as the rest of the match was a monologue from Real Betis.

Two minutes after that chance, Bruno headed a corner kick that was cleared by a defender in the goal line. The home team had many chances throughout the second half, trying tirelessly. In the 76th came one of the best of these chances, but the header from Rubén went wide by a few inches. And in the 82nd minute, the reward finally came. After a long combination of passes, Petros gave an astonishing pass that broke Celta’s defensive line. Molina received the ball, turned around and finished with class.

After the goal, the team kept going for the second. Real Celta de Vigo almost took the victory home, though. In an isolated chance after a mistake in the midfield, the visiting team launched a counterattack, but Nolito shot wide when was alone inside the box. And Molina almost scored in the added time, but his header went slightly wide.

In the end, a good tie for the men managed the Pepe Mel, although it may taste a bit bittersweet seeing the performance of the team today.

Real Betis Balompié: Giménez, Piccini, Bruno, Westermann (Van der Vaart 75), Varela, Joaquín, Petros, N’Diaye (Vadillo 62), Cejudo (Molina 55), Ceballos, Rubén Castro. Goals: Molina 82. Booked: Bruno 15, N’Diaye 34, Petros 37, Molina 67, Ceballos 88.

Real Celta de Vigo: Sergio, Hugo Mallo, G. Cabral, Planas, Jonny, Augusto, Wass, Bongonda (Diego 51), Nolito (Guidetti 87), Orellana, Aspas (Fernández 76). Goals: Bongonda 24. Booked: Bongonda 21, Planas 29, Mallo 35, Nolito 77, Sergio 89. Sent-off: Jonny 48.