The Real Betis achieved an exciting 2-1 victory over Seville in a Sevillian derby that kept everyone at the edge of their seats, thus breaking a six-year streak without being able to beat their eternal rival in LaLiga (since 2018). With this triumph, the Betis is firmly established in the sixth position with 44 points, keeping alive his hopes of reaching the Champions League. On the other hand, Seville, which occupies the tenth place with 36 points, moves away from European posts. The game, which was played before a Villamarín full of fans, was a real show full of intensity and emotions.
Initial alignments
- Real Betis (4-2-3-1): Adrian; Sabaly, Bartra, Llorente, Ricardo Rodríguez; Johnny Cardoso, Fornals; Antony, Isco (Lo Celso, min. 72), Jesús Rodríguez (Ez Abde, min. 72); Cucho Hernández (Bakambu, min. 58).
- Banking: Vieites (P.s.), Manu González, Natan, Bellerín, Perraud, Ruibal, William Carvalho, Altimira, Chimy Ávila.
- Lows: Nobel Mendy (lesionate), Marc Roca and Lo Celso (dudes for discomfort).
- Seville (4-3-3): Nyland; Carmona, Badé, Kike Salas, Pedrosa; Juanlu (Saoul, min. 71), Lokonga, Gudelj; Lukebakio, Isaac Romero (Akor Adams, min. 59), Vargas (Peque, min. 71).
- Banking: Alvaro Fernández (P.s.), Flores, Marcao, Ramón, Manu Bueno, Idumbo, Suso, Ejuke.
- Lows: Agoumé and Sow (sanctioned), Nianzou (lesionate), Jesus Navas (doubt for trouble).
Real Betis
- Tactical provision: Manuel Pellegrini bet for 4-2-3-1, with Isco as a hook and Antony and Jesús Rodríguez open in the bands to generate amplitude. High pressure was key, with 54% possession and a concentrated heat map in the rival field.
- Offensive phase: The Betis had a total of 12 shots, of which 4 went to the door, and generated 1.8 expected goals (xG). His style of play focused on the creativity of Isco and the incursions of Antony, who constantly overwhelmed the right band. The first goal came in the 38th minute, thanks to Johnny Cardoso, who took advantage of a bad córner defended by Seville. The second goal, just before the break (min. 45+1), was the work of Cucho Hernández, who received great assistance from Isco after an excellent team play.
- Defensive phase: The defense, led by Llorente and Bartra, stood firm, winning 52% of the duels. However, they had a slip in the goal of Seville (min. 15) due to a marking error during a counter attack. Adrian had a good match, though he made a mistake trying to haggle Akor Adams, which almost cost them a goal.
- Tactical Key: High pressure and intensity in the middle, led by Cardoso and Fornals, allowed the Betis to recover balloons in dangerous areas. The changes (Bakambu, Lo Celso, Ez Abde) gave freshness, although the team slowed down in the second half.
Sevilla
- Tactical provision: García Pimienta opted for a 4-3-3, looking for quick transitions with Lukebakio and Vargas in the bands. The absence of Agoumé and Sow forced a more physical medium with Juanlu, Lokonga and Gudelj.
- Offensive phase: Seville generated 10 shots, 3 by door, with 1.3 xG. His goal came in the 15th minute, a coup led by Vargas, who defined after a Lukebakio pass. However, they lacked depth after rest, with Isaac Romero very isolated.
- Defensive phase: The sevilistic defense suffered with the overflows of Antony and the arrivals of Isco. Badé and Kike Salas were unable to contain Cucho Hernandez, while Nyland avoided a major gorilla with several stops.
- Tactical Key: The changes (Saoul, Peque, Akor Adams) sought more verticality, but Seville failed to match the match. Their best time was to start, but the lack of ideas in the second half condemned them.
goals and assistance
- 0-1 (min. 15): Rubén Vargas, assistance of Dodi Lukebakio.
- 1-1 (min. 38): Johnny Cardoso, with no assistance (corner badly defended).
- 2-1 (min. 45+1): Cucho Hernández, Isco assistance.
MVP of the Party
Isco Alarcón was the MVP of the meeting. The Malagueño, who received LaLiga’s trophy to the best player of the month just before the game, was the real Betis engine. He attended Cucho for 2-1, created 3 goal opportunities and performed 4 regates. His vision and quality destabilized Seville, although he had to leave in the 72nd minute due to fatigue and some discomfort.
Scores of Players
- Real Betis:
- Adrian: 6.5 – Key stops, but an error when bargaining almost cost a goal.
- Sabaly: 7 – Solid in defense, held Vargas.
- Bartra: 7 – Safe in court, although he failed in the sevilist goal.
- Llorente: 7.5 – Great game, pushing and winning duels.
- Ricardo Rodríguez: 7 – He contributed in attack and defense.
- Johnny Cardoso: 8 – Gol and great work in the middle.
- Fornals: 7 – Very intense, it recovered 5 balls.
- Antony: 7.5 – He constantly overwhelmed, although he failed in definition.
- Isco: 9 – MVP, assistance and leadership.
- Jesús Rodríguez: 6.5 – Active, but without clear impact.
- Cucho Hernández: 8 – Gol decisive, constant danger.
- Substitutes:
- Bakambu: 6 – He contributed little.
- The Celsus: 6.5 – Dio control.
- Ez Abde: 6 – No impact.
- Sevilla:
- Nyland: 7 – He avoided a larger gorilla.
- Carmona: 5.5 – Overtaken by Antony.
- Badé: 5 – Flojo, lost key duels.
- Kike Salas: 5.5 – Overwhelmed by Cucho.
- Pedrosa: 6 – He tried to join the attack.
- Juanlu: 6 – A lot of effort, little impact.
- Lokonga: 5.5 – Lost in the middle.
- Gudelj: 6 – Right, but slow.
- Lukebakio: 7 – He attended Vargas, the most dangerous.
- Isaac Romero: 5 – Isolated, without occasion.
- Vargas: 7 – Gol and constant danger.
- Substitutes:
- Akor Adams: 5.5 – No incidence.
- Saul: 6 – He brought some control.
- Fish: 5.5 – He was late.
Arbitrary and VAR polyester
The party, led by Busquets Ferrer with Hernández in the VAR, made several controversial decisions:
- Possible Penalty Not Pited to Antony (min. 22):
- Description: Antony was shot down by Carmona in the area after a great bargain. Busquets Ferrer pointed out missing outside the area, and the VAR did not correct the decision.
- Impact: The play generated outrage at the Villamarín. Iturralde González, in SER, said: “The contact is within the area, the VAR should have intervened.” The Betis felt he was denied a clear opportunity.
- Gol del Sevilla (0-1, min. 15):
- Description: Seville marked in a counterattack, but the Betis claimed a previous lack of Lokonga about Fornals at the beginning of the game. The VAR didn’t check.
- Impact: Pellegrini protested, and in Movistar+ it was pointed out that “the lack was doubtful, but the VAR should have revised it.”
- Yellow to Isco (min. 65):
- Description: Isco received a yellow one for protesting after an unmarked fault. This card, your fifth of the season, will make you lose the next match to the Celta de Vigo.
- Impact: Cosmetic hobby and Pellegrini considered unjust admonition, as Isco only asked for explanations.
Post-Partido statements
- Manuel Pellegrini (Real Betis): “I am very proud of the team, we broke a streak of many years without winning a derby in League. The hobby was key, and the players gave everything. Antony’s criminality was clear, but we’re not going to complain, today we win on our own merits.”
- García Pimienta (Sevilla): “We started well, but two mistakes cost us the game. In the second part we had no clarity to pack. The Betis was a fair winner, although arbitration was not fine for either of us.”
- Isco (Real Betis): “It’s a very special day, winning a derby after so long is amazing. The hobby deserves it. I am sad for the yellow, I wanted to play the next game, but I trust my colleagues.”
- Nemanja Gudelj (Sevilla): “It plays swallowing poison. We started winning, but by two concentration failures we left the game. It can’t be that just before the break we get 2-1.”
- Jesús Rodríguez (Real Betis): “This hobby deserved it, yesterday 30,000 came to see us train. It is a pride to play in this club.”
Covers of World Sports Journals
- Spain:
- Brand brand: “The Betis reigns in Seville! Epic lift in the derby (2-1)”.
- AS: “El Villamarín estalla: Betis 2-1 Sevilla with a star Isco”.
- World of Sports: “The Betis takes the derby and dreams of the Champions (2-1).”
- Sport: “Isco leads the Betis victory in a vibrant derby (2-1).”
- International:
- L’Équipe (France): “Le Betis s’impose dans le derby de Séville (2-1)”.
- The Guardian (United Kingdom): “Real Betis edge Sevilla 2-1 in a thrilling Seville derby”.
- ESPN (Global): “Isco shines as Betis overcome Seville in LaLiga derby (2-1)”.
- Olé (Argentina): “Derbi para el Betis! He won 2-1 to Seville with an unstoppable Isco.”
Isco Loses the Next Party
Isco received his fifth yellow of the season for protesting at the 65th minute, which will make him miss the next match of the Real Betis before the Celta de Vigo, scheduled for April 5, 2025. Their absence will be a blow to the team, given their key role in creating a game.
Extended Analysis
The Real Betis demonstrated clear tactical and emotional superiority over Seville, especially in the first half. Its high pressure and quality of Isco disarmed a Seville that, despite a good start, vanished after the draw. The intensity of the Betis, backed by a Villamarin delivered, was fundamental to reverse Vargas’s initial goal. Johnny Cardoso and Cucho Hernández were able to take advantage of the mistakes in the sevilistic defense, while the entry of Lo Celso and Ez Abde brought freshness in the final moments.
For its part, Seville showed quality flashes with Lukebakio and Vargas, but the lack of Agoumé and Sow left their midfield without the necessary creativity. García Pimienta tried to make adjustments with offensive changes, but the team failed to react after 2-1. Arbitral decisions, especially the unmarked criminality to Antony, increased discontent in the Betis, although they did not manage to tarnish their victory.
This result reinforces the aspirations of the Betis to fight for a place in the Champions League, while Seville needs an urgent response not to stay behind in the race for European positions. The absence of Isco in the next match will be a challenge for Pellegrini, who will have to look for alternatives to maintain the team level.
