Real Betis could not win at Benito Villamarín Stadium. The team paid the price of an early mistake in defence and was trailing throughout the whole match. In the second half, the Green-and-White side tried more and was close to level up the score but couldn’t score. To make matters worse, Digard fell injured when Mel had already made the three substitutions and the team was forced to play the final ten minutes with just ten players.

Mel had chosen for today a different tactical setting to the previous matches in the season. The team formed with Digard, N’Diaye and Xavi Torres in the midfield, in a try to stop the attacking force of Club Atletico de Madrid. But the match started in the worst possible way for Real Betis. In the 7th minute, Xavi Torres lost the ball in the edge of the box defended by Adán. Fernando Torres shot and Adán made a fantastic save but the ball fell to the feet of Koke who just had to tap it in. An early blow that paid a heavy price at the end of the match. The home team tried to react. However, Club Atletico de Madrid had the match in a situation that they feel more comfortable with. The visiting team moved its lines a bit forward and was pressing high to force the mistake from Real Betis and then counterattack.

In this way came the next chance for Atletico. A good combination of passes in the attacking zone and Griezmann found himself completely alone inside the box but his effort went high. After this chance, Real Betis showed its best side and had some chances. The first one of them came after a good steal in the midfield and a good vertical pass to N’Diaye. The French-Senegalese run forward but his shot went out. In these moments Betis was passing the ball around well for the first time in the match, and Club Atletico de Madrid moved its lines backwards again. Nonetheless, in the last minute before half time, in another counterattack, Ferreira Carrasco had a really good chance but his effort went wide for a few inches.

Seeing that the initial setting didn’t work as planned, Mel made a substitution at half time, and Dani Ceballos replaced Xavi Torres. The match continued in a similar way as in the first 45 minutes. Atletico was at ease with the score and was trying to not let Real Betis play. In the 53rd minute happened the most unfortunate play of the game. Adán and Godín clashed in the air when going for a ball. They hit their head into one another, and Adán fell badly on the floor. The Atletico defender had a cut in the forehead, and both players needed medical assistance for several minutes. Shortly afterwards came the best chance for Real Betis in the whole match. A great combination of passes between Rubén Castro, Ceballos and Cejudo that ended with a sensational strike from the later that Oblak deflected to corner kick.

Bad news for Real Betis a few seconds later. Adán couldn’t continue on the pitch due to the fall in the clash with Godín and the keeper had to come off the pitch. Dani Giménez took his place under the goal. In these moments came the best from the home team in the match. The Green-and-White side was putting up a lot of pressure on the rival. Atletico was struggling to hold onto the ball. In spite of these good moments, Betis was leaving some space behind the defenders and Atletico tried to counterattack as soon as they got the ball. In the 73rd minute Griezmann was completely alone inside the box but shot high.

More bad news to come for Real Betis. Once the three changes had been made, Digard fell injured and had to go out the game, leaving the team with ten men. Still the team tried to go forward and level the score but Atletico had yet another great chance to make the second, but Griezmann’s effort hit the post.

Real Betis Balompié: Adán (Dani Giménez 62), Piccini, Bruno, Westermann, Varela, Digard, Xavi Torres (Ceballos 46), N'Diaye, Cejudo, Joaquín (Molina 77), Rubén Castro. Booked: Bruno 53.

Club Atlético de Madrid: Oblak, Gámez, Godín, Savic, Filipe Luis, Tiago, Gabi, Koke (Saúl 81), Ferreira Carrasco (Óliver 77), Griezmann, Torres (Vietto 70). Goals: Koke 7. Booked: Filipe Luis 9, Tiago 27, Gámez 38, Gabi 77.