Sidnei and Bartra celebrate the victory.

MATCH REPORT | Three precious points (1-0)

Junior scored the only goal of the game

Real Betis Balompié got today a good and hard-worked victory against Real Sociedad. The game was quite even, with chances for both sides, but the Green and Whites managed well the game and the advantage in the score. The only goal was scored by junior in the first half.

The match went underway and for the initial minutes, both teams were testing each other. Betis had more possession while Real Sociedad were trying to press strong.

Bad news came after just fifteen minutes, as Andrés Guardado fell injured in a run and had to leave the game. The team had to play for several minutes with only ten men. Eventually, Ryad Boudebouz came on after a few minutes. The game was quite slow in pace and chances. The first dangerous one, after several approaches, was for Lo Celso, who tried to with a free kick that went over the bar.

A minute later, Betis got the lead. A corner kick delivered to the near post where Carvalho headed the ball back to the far post. There, junior showed up to control and put the ball into the back of the net. The first for the visitors came five minutes later with a quick counterattack from Sandro, but this effort was deflected into corner kick by a great save from Pau López. In the following play, Zurutuza missed alone in the far post.

The second half started and Betis had the first really soon. A good combination in attack that ended up on the right wing where Francis delivered a good cross and Junior headed it, but Moyá made a good save. It seemed, however, that Real Sociedad had a more attacking edge than in the first half, when they had not done too much.

Around the 70th minute, Real Sociedad had their best in the game. Sandro picked a cross inside the box and shot, but Pau produced a fantastic save. Betis replied a couple of minutes later with a good run by Tello. The winger made a low cross and, after a couple of rebounds, Loren shot to be blocked over the line by a defender.

Januzaj had another chance but he sent his effort wide. Again a reply from the Green and Whites through Lo Celso, who sent his shot from outside the area over the bar. The final minutes arrived and Betis began to move the ball with intelligence, not allowing the away team to have the ball. The team even could score more, but the game ended with just one goal and three great points.

Real Betis Balompié: Pau López, Francis, Mandi, Bartra, Sidnei, Junior, Carvalho, Guardado (Boudebouz 18'), Lo Celso, Joaquín (Tello 66'), Loren (Javi García 83').
Goals: Junior (33').
Booked: Lo Celso (46'), Junior (59'), Mandi (76'), Carvalho (78').

Real Sociedad de Fútbol: Moyá, Gorosabel, Le Normand, Moreno, Theo Hernández, Zubeldia (Januzaj 74'), Illarramendi, Zurutuza (Merino 59'), Oyarzabal (Juanmi 69'), Sandro, Willian José.
Booked: Hernández (62'), Willian José (79').