Yesterday I headed to Seville with classmate Will to attend the match between Real Betis and Celta de Vigo. A match between two teams still fully competing in the UEFA Europa League this season, while also battling for fifth place in La Liga, which secures a ticket to that same competition.
Real Betis came into the game in not the best form, having failed to win any of their last four matches, including a 1:0 defeat against Panathinaikos on Thursday. The visitors from Vigo were in better shape. Celta had recently drawn against Olympique Lyonnais and have been very strong away from home, losing only two matches on the road in La Liga so far this season.
Everything was set for a top clash. Under a bright sun at Estadio de La Cartuja, both teams faced off. Betis normally play at their iconic Estadio Benito Villamarín, but it is under renovation until at least 2027. For now they have to make do with another stadium, but with around 55 thousand fans in attendance, there was certainly no shortage of atmosphere.
Recent meetings between these sides have often produced plenty of goals, and this one did not take long to get going. After less than five minutes, Ferran Jutglà received the ball outside the box from Óscar Mingueza. The Spanish forward did not hesitate and struck it, a saveable shot, but goalkeeper Álvaro Valles misjudged it. The former striker of FC Barcelona and Club Brugge saw his effort hit the net, giving Celta an early 0:1 lead.
The home side seemed a bit asleep in the first half, and the visitors from Vigo looked to take full advantage. Pablo Durán came close to a second goal but saw his effort go wide. Shortly after, it was Jutglà again, but this time he shot straight at Valles. Within fifteen minutes, the visitors had already created three big chances, and Real Betis were fortunate not to be further behind.
The match flowed from end to end, with a series of long range efforts and plenty of fouls from both sides. The visitors appeared to control the first half, although Los Verdiblancos came close to an equaliser just before the break. After a cross from Pablo Fornals, Ez Abde found space, but to the frustration of both him and the crowd, his shot went straight at Celta goalkeeper Ionuț Radu. When the referee blew for half time, it was the visitors who held the lead.
Manuel Pellegrini must have delivered a strong team talk at the break, as his side had struggled badly and Celta were in full control. It clearly had an effect, because after the restart Betis came out with far more intensity and attacking threat.
The equaliser arrived quickly in the second half. On the right flank, Aitor Ruibal played a brilliant through ball to Héctor Bellerín, who found himself one on one with Radu and calmly lifted the ball over the goalkeeper. 1:1 in the 48th minute. It was Bellerín’s first goal for Real Betis in La Liga, and with an entire second half still to play, everything remained possible.
While the momentum had been with the visitors in the first half, Pellegrini’s men took control after the break. Through good build up play on both flanks, led by Bellerín and Junior Firpo, the ball was frequently delivered into the box, but the finishing lacked precision.
Out of nowhere it looked like things might turn completely against Betis when Borja Iglesias came on for Celta. The Spanish international was greeted with loud whistles from the fans of his former club, but he did not seem affected. In the 82nd minute, he dribbled past several defenders and the goalkeeper before finishing calmly, only for the goal to be correctly ruled out for offside.
The closing stages were of a very high level. Two minutes after that chance, the home side had an opportunity to take the win, but Ruibal’s strong effort was once again saved by Radu. The Romanian goalkeeper once more confirmed his excellent form this season.
The winning goal almost came right at the end. After a free kick in the final minute of stoppage time, substitute Cédric Bakambu headed goalward from close range, but Radu produced another fine reflex save. The referee briefly consulted VAR for a possible earlier handball in the penalty area. The whistle followed, not once for a penalty, but three times to end the match.
All three points could have gone either way, but in the end Real Betis and Celta de Vigo had to settle for a draw. Both teams now turn their attention to their European fixtures, which are already scheduled for Thursday.
After the match, we had the opportunity to meet some Betis players, which made the experience unforgettable.
