He Real Betis was imposed on Almeria in the second friendly of the preseason, in which Claudio Bravo and Martín Montoya debuted in the Betic ranks with the new purple clothing that was also released. Pellegrini's team barely gave the Almeria a chance, although they did not close the game until the last minute, after a Borja Iglesias who still denied the goal up to three very clear occasions failed and transformed a superb Aitor Ruibal, who has returned from his assignment Leganés knocking loudly at the door and wanting to stay. Merits is doing. As soon as the game ended, Manuel Pellegrini went to give encouragement to Borja Iglesias, a detail on the part of the Chilean.
Real Betis was much superior to Almería at all times, not letting the Almería, who had barely been training for a day and a half, get close to Joel Robles, with overwhelming pressure after a loss led by a Guido Rodríguez whose contribution was presumes key to improving defensive balance.
The Argentine arrived in January of this year and was slow to catch up with the rhythm of the game in Europe, but once he is doing so, he must be a key part of Pellegrini's schemes, who is very clear that any improvement in the level of play happens. for raising the defensive commitment of the entire team, hence that double pivot Guido-Guarded that he repeated again initially, which left out William Carvalho, who would only play the final 15 minutes.
Sergio Canales served the 0-1 and sent a ball to the post
Bartra put the Betis with an advantage thanks to an accurate header after a corner thrown by Canales (28 '), who then sent to the post what could have been the 0-2, when he finished off with his right leg an excellent inside pass that Borja Iglesias served him, this time the starter instead of Tonny Sanabria.
After the break, Almería changed their eleven players and for a few minutes the Betic goal came to be somewhat disturbing, with a free kick well thrown by Lazo that came out next to the post (56 '), after Borja Iglesias (48') had already A clear mistake-Lluis stopped it- to have made it 0-2, which a defender then took Bartra over the line (81 ') and Borja could not score on two other very clear occasions (83' and 85 '), the last when trying a vaseline after an exceptional pass from Aitor Ruibal, who would then finish off the task with a great goal to the squad with his left foot from outside the area.
UD Almería: Lluis; Corpas, Romera, Peybernes, Jean Marco; Albiar, Aguza, Callejón, Chema Nuñez; Fermín and Ramazzani.
In the second part they played: Lluis; Balliu, Maras, Martos, Jonathan; De la Hoz, Petrovic, Lazo, Villalba, Appiah and Enri
Real Betis: Joel Robles; Emerson, Mandi, Bartra, Álex Moreno; Guido Rodríguez, Guarded; Joaquín, Canales, Juanmi; and Borja Iglesias.
At 46 'Tello enters through Juanmi; at 62 'Claudio Bravo, Lainez and Paul by Joel, Joaquín and Guardado; at 75 'William, Ruibal and Montoya by Guido, Canales and Emerson.
Referee: Ruiz Aguilera.
Goals: 0-1, Bartra (m. 28); 0-2, Aitor Ruibal (m. 90)
Scenario: friendly played at the Municipal de Marbella, behind closed doors