Two great players in Spanish football, Isco and goalkeeper Reina, supported Betis and Villarreal respectively so that the two teams achieved their first victory in the Europa League against Sparta Prague and Stade Rennais. Isco scored 2-1 for Betis with a great header, while Reina, at 41, saved a penalty in the 91st minute that would have meant a tie for the French team. The goalkeeper also did so on the day he became the Spanish player with the most European appearances (187). Betis and Villarreal, therefore, right the course after a start with two defeats. And they did it by beating two good teams, who had not yet known defeat so far this year.
2
Rui Silva, Juan Miranda (Abner, 45th minute), Pezzella, Marc Roca, Aitor Ruibal, Assane Diao, Guido Rodriguez, Abde (Ayoze Perez, 45th minute), Isco, William Carvalho (Guardo, 59th minute) and Borja Churches (Willian Joseph, min. 74)
1
Peter Vindahl, Filip Panak, Sorensen, Ladislav Krejci, Matej Rynes, Tomas Wiesner (Angelo Preciado, min. 60), Kaan Kairinen, Qazim Laci (Lukás Sadílek, min. 68), Jan Kuchta, Haraslin (Adam Karabec, min. 80 ) y Veljko Birmancevic (Pesek, min. 68)
Goals 0-1 min. 2: Veljko Birmancevic. 1-1 min. 8: Assane Diao. 2-1 min. 78: Isco.
Referee Duje Strukan
Yellow cards Guido Rodríguez (min. 11), Haraslin (min. 15), Assane Diao (min. 48), Veljko Birmancevic (min. 49), Aitor Ruibal (min. 58), Matej Rynes (min. 75) and Abner (min. 91)
Isco had a monumental second half to avoid suffocation for his team, a Betis team that suffered a lot in the first half and improved a lot in the second half. A header goal from the midfielder ended the aspirations of a good Sparta, which, curiously, was better when it was hotter at the Benito Villamarín stadium where 45,000 spectators braved the prevailing heat in Seville. Isco played, surely, his best game at Betis to be the mainstay in which he secured the victory. The surprising victory of Aris de Limassol over Rangers (2-1) means that all the teams in this group C are now with three points.
Isco not only scored a good goal with a header. The thing is that he literally threw himself on top of a Betis team overwhelmed by Sparta’s intensity. And he did it by running more than anyone else and playing in the area where he is really dangerous, on the edge of the rival area. Shortly before the goal, in the 76th minute, Isco himself cut off an almost lethal Sparta counterattack in a high-level defensive action. Before the goal, he launched a free kick and then a screw shot, both very dangerous. Together with Isco, Betis held its own during the time of Assane Diao. Every ball the kid touches ends in a goal. And there are three.
Seville was an oven, at 36 degrees, in which a Betis team, surprised by the vitality of Sparta, melted, a team that caught the Andalusians off their feet with an electric start. A game at 6:45 p.m. in the capital of Andalusia with the prevailing heat was not the best scenario for the two teams. However, Sparta, with a lot of muscle, quickly found the way to the goal after three minutes, when a pass behind the Betis defense was very well taken advantage of by Birmancevic.
The second half for Betis was much more upbeat. Aris’ victory against Rangers condemned the Andalusian team to the bottom position of the group with the tie. There was no choice but to win. The fans also understood it and Isco claimed his starring role. His enthusiasm and his football rubbed off on his teammates. With the foul that he was about to enter and with a leading role that changed the match. And all at high speed and after having played practically everything since the beginning of the season. The chances were green and white. Roca, this time as center back due to Bartra’s injury, Aitor Ruibal and Borja came close to scoring. The decibels rose in Villamarín and Isco emerged in the area to head down a Ruibal cross.
Sorloth scored a great goal in the 34th minute to put Villarreal ahead, who then had to suffer a lot to defeat Stade Rennais. The VAR annulled a penalty ordered by the referee in the 77th minute and, after suffering much harassment from the French team, Reina stopped the penalty in the 91st minute with a shot from Terrier, who still failed with everything in favor of the goalkeeper’s clearance. . “This is over and I’m excited,” Reina said through tears after being Villarreal’s hero. The team led by Pacheta went from better to less in a match where the French team had options to tie the match, especially in the second half.
You can follow EL PAÍS Deportes in Facebook y Xclick here to receive our weekly newsletter.
Comments are closed.