A goal by Valery in the 93rd minute ended Betis’ good run and praised the renewed Mallorca of Jagoba Arrasate. A team revitalised by the Basque coach, who knew how to take advantage of their moments in the match. First, equalising very quickly after Lo Celso’s great goal. Then, holding off Betis’ push, especially at the start of the second half, when the posts and a great move by goalkeeper Greif saved Mallorca itself. Perhaps the fairest thing would have been a draw, but Betis lacked aim and Lo Celso’s fatigue was very noticeable. The changes ordered by Manuel Pellegrini did not work, nor did his gamble of playing a two-legged game against a rival who is in a good moment of play. Mallorca is moving up the table and has reached a fantastic 11 points, in fifth place. Betis, who defended very poorly throughout the match, could not celebrate its 2,000th game in Primera with a win. After two consecutive victories at the Benito Villamarín against Leganés and Getafe, the Andalusians suffered their second defeat of the season.
1
Rui Silva, Héctor Bellerín, Natan, Diego Llorente, Ricardo Rodríguez (Romain Perraud, min. 68), Sergi Altimira (Aitor Ruibal, min. 80), Marc Roca, Giovani Lo Celso, Chimy Ávila (Pablo Fornals, min. 68) , Abde Ezzalzouli (Juanmi, min. 80) and Vitor Roque (Cédric Bakambu, min. 68)
2
Dominik Greif, Antonio Sanchez, Johan Mojica, Antonio Raillo, Martin Valjent (Copete, min. 70), Omar Mascarell, Robert Navarro (Valery Fernandez, min. 75), Dani Rodriguez (Chiquinho, min. 75), Sergi Darder (Toni Lato, min. 86), Samu Costa and Cyle Larin (Abdon Prats, min. 75)
Goals
1-0 min. 6: Giovani Lo Celso. 1-1 min. 7: Danny. 1-2 min. 92: Valery Fernandez
Referee Victor Garcia Vegetable
Yellow cards
Héctor Bellerín (min. 20), Chimy Ávila (min. 33), Giovani Lo Celso (min. 34), Dani (min. 64), Copete (min. 80), Mateu Morey (min. 94)
Jagoba has changed the face of Mallorca. A much more upright, braver team, capable of overcoming unexpected blows. Lo Celso had put Betis ahead with a great goal in the seventh minute and Dani Rodríguez equalised in the play that followed. Only 17 seconds of real play passed between one goal and the other. The error of the home defence was important in the goal conceded, but Mallorca’s attacking play is also worthy of praise. With Muriqi injured, Larin controlled a long ball to serve the ball to his teammate, who scored easily. A true ode to direct football.
The goal made Betis uncomfortable, and they were in control of the game, albeit with reservations. Only once, with a great pass from Altimira, was Betis able to break through Mallorca’s good defensive line. Greif saved Vitor Roque’s shot and Mallorca breathed a sigh of relief in a first half in which the VAR saved Lo Celso from being sent off. García Ventura was hasty in showing the red card. Mallorca came through the halfway point of the match in better shape. They even scored a goal disallowed for offside by Darder that was much more fair than it seemed on the pitch.
Betis showed their best side at the start of the second half. A great play by Abde did not end in a goal by pure miracle. The Moroccan’s shot hit both posts and went around the six-yard box. Mallorca knew how to weather the storm. Especially their goalkeeper Greif, who made a great save after a shot by Vitor Roque. Jagoba’s men had the merit of holding on to that bad moment to stay in the match. Betis always tried, but they lacked accuracy, with Lo Celso very tired. Bakambu, Juanmi and Fornals hardly contributed anything and again Greif saved his team with a shot by Ruibal. Mallorca, however, had defended well throughout the match, unlike Betis, and had the fortune and the accuracy to score a goal when there was no time for anything else. Costa put the icing on the cake of his good game with a header from a corner kick. Valery finished off the first time with his bad foot, his left foot, the ball grazed the Bellerín and slipped into the Betis goal without fail. A good Mallorca took the three points from Villamarín on a night that began with a great goal from Lo Celso and ended with Mallorca’s joy on a pitch in poor condition. “It wasn’t a red card, even the Mallorca players recognised that,” said Lo Celso. “They are a good team and they knew how to take advantage of their moment. They defended well, although we didn’t deserve to lose,” concluded the scorer of the Betis goal.
Loan requested by Betis
Betis announced before the match that it has reached a financing agreement with the investment bank Goldman Sachs for 125 million euros that will allow it, according to the club, to “restructure its debt from short to long term and under very favourable conditions, with a maturity period of ten years”. The Betis team has had financial difficulties since the time of Covid and needed liquidity to face the next payments.
