The match between Betis and Alavés ended with a slim victory for the home side, securing a 1-0 win at La Cartuja Stadium. The decisive moment came early in the match, with Giovani Lo Celso scoring the only goal just 15 minutes into the first half.
Lo Celso showcased his skill with a dazzling individual run down the right flank before firing a shot that beat the Alavés goalkeeper, sealing his team’s lead. In the dying moments of the game, Cédric Bakambu nearly doubled the scoreline, but his shot struck the post in the 94th minute, leaving the final score unchanged.
Giovani Lo Celso was undoubtedly the standout player of the evening, contributing not just the goal but also completing 22 successful passes and attempting 2 shots on goal. Sergi Altimira also had an impressive performance, with 46 accurate passes and 8 ball recoveries throughout the match.
A playful moment came in the 31st minute when Rodrigo Riquelme thrilled the fans with a nutmeg on Pablo Ibáñez, elevating the energy in the stadium.
Betis’ coach, Manuel Pellegrini, lined up his squad in a 4-5-1 formation which included Pau López in goal, with Hector Bellerín, Marc Bartra, Natan, and Júnior Firpo forming the defensive line. The midfield featured Sergi Altimira, Pablo Fornals, Aitor Ruibal, Giovani Lo Celso, and Rodrigo Riquelme, with Juan Hernández leading the attack.
Alavés, under the guidance of Eduardo Coudet, deployed a 4-5-1 setup as well, fielding Antonio Sivera as their goalkeeper, supported by Jonny Otto, Facundo Garcés, Nahuel Tenaglia, and Victor Parada in defense. The midfield consisted of Antonio Blanco, Carlos Vicente, Jon Guridi, Pablo Ibáñez, and Carles Aleñá, with Toni Martínez as their forward.
The referee for this closely-watched encounter was Miguel Ortiz Arias.
Looking ahead, Betis will host Athletic Bilbao in their next fixture, while Alavés will face Atlético de Madrid at home. With this victory, Betis currently sits at the top of the table with 4 points, whereas Alavés is in ninth place with 3 points.
Substitutions for Betis:
58' 2T – Riquelme for Pablo Garcia
70' 2T – Júnior Firpo for Ricardo Rodríguez
84' 2T – Juan Hernández for Cédric Bakambu
85' 2T – Lo Celso for Valentín Gómez
Yellow Cards for Betis:
0' 2T Lo Celso (Unsporting behaviour) and 38' 2T Juan Hernández (Insulting or disapproving the referee)
Substitutions for Alavés:
57' 2T – Jon Guridi for Abde Rebbach, Pablo Ibáñez for Ander Guevara, Toni Martínez for Mariano Díaz
77' 2T – Victor Parada for Calebe Goncalves
88' 2T – Antonio Blanco for Lander Pinillos
Yellow Cards for Alavés:
41' 1T Pablo Ibáñez (Repeated fouls), 32' 2T Facundo Garcés (Holding an opponent to prevent a counter) and 35' 2T Antonio Blanco (Insulting or disapproving the referee)