A collective sigh of relief was audible from the stands of the Benito Villamarín at full time this Saturday, as Real Betis and Málaga played out a scoreless draw. By no means was the relief to do with the home team being second best, and scraping a point on the night, but rather to the fact that it meant an end to their run of six defeats on the trot.
Pepe Mel characteristically stuck to his purist approach, starting with an attacking formation and experimentally pushing Pozuelo further up the pitch than usual to partner Jorge Molina up front, in the absence of the still injured Roque Santa Cruz. The refusal to resort to more defensive tactics, although not resulting in any goals, paid off for los Béticos.
Meanwhile Manuel Pelligrini was forced to change his starting 11 from last week’s victory against Espanyol, with Isco coming in for the injured Apoño. However, with Ruud Van Nistelrooy and ‘The Beast’ Baptista still carrying knocks, the Chilean stuck with José Salomón Rondon alone up front.
The first half was quite flat from both sides, with Betis edging it in terms of chances created. Understandably the crisis of confidence Betis has suffered of late affected their play in front of goal, but during the first 45 minutes Mels’s men dominated in midfield and looked like a side on top of it’s game, with Beñat standing out in particular.
The second half offered little in the way of action but Betis held on, and at last, luck seemed to be on their side: Rondon should have got on the score sheet when Monreal swung in a perfect cross from the left, which the Venezuelan headed straight at Casto. Not to say the hosts didn’t create anything themselves: Pozuelo coming close on 66 minutes, but steered his shot wide.
Prodigal son Joaquín Sánchez returned to his old hunting ground, but did not receive the messiah like reception he has previously come to expect from his beloved old club: previous visits by Betis’ last real idol have seen the midfielder being applauded by his adoring fans, including when he put them out of the Copa del Rey with Valencia in 2008 with two goals. Tonight though, los Heliopolitanos were especially hostile to their former hero’s homecoming, probably due to bitterness of his ability to remain in Spain’s top flight while they had to slog it out in the second division.
This harsh reception surely frustrated El Rayo (as he was affectionately known in Seville) but it wasn’t to be his or Malaga’s night. La Liga’s ‘new money’ failed once again to show any signs of understanding each other on the road: having only recorded one away win to date this season.
This gelling period that Malaga seems intent on prolonging must be frustrating los Malaguistas, but this will be of no concern to Betis tonight, as they finally see the well earned fruits of their labour.
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