MADRID, 2 One. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Real Betis and Real Sociedad suffered two New Year’s setbacks this Sunday in their European aspirations, falling (0-2) against RC Celta and drawing (1-1) against Deportivo Alavés, while Elche and Granada they signed tables (0-0) with controversy.
The Betic team yielded at Benito Villamarín to an afternoon inspired by Iago Aspas, author of the two goals, 10 already in the League. Those of Manuel Pellegrini, who keep third place despite the defeat, lacked spark after the grapes and verticality in the moments of possession. Celta folded well and had a punch.
In fact, the Galician team was better at the beginning, with a good chance from Brais. Betis regained possession, but was unable to harm Coudet’s men. Celta kept his rival away from his goal and Cervi forced the penalty from Guardado that transformed Aspas. Without Fekir, Betis was thick and at times asleep.
Thus, Aspas punished in the last play of the first half to steal Víctor Ruiz and make it 0-2. Coudet, with a boss Fran Beltrán on the pitch, also beat Pellegrini in the second half. Celta fully complied and took three points to think about 2022 with optimism still far from the high zone.
Meanwhile, the Real did not change their streak, six days without winning, despite starting scoring in Mendizorroza. A great pass from David Silva to Portu, and the back pass for the arrival of Januzaj, who had entered shortly before due to Barrenetxea’s injury, made it 0-1. Alavés could already see the intentions of his new coach Mendilibar, and the delivery and pressure above did not waver.
Joselu circled the goal until he found it a penalty at the time of the match and Real, unhinged and disconnected as few times and missing Oyarzabal, became entangled in the tangle of an Alavés who scored in his debut with ‘Mendi’. Another misstep by the ‘txuri-urdin’ team that puts its European place at stake.
THE ELCHE AND THE DISPUTE MEET AGAIN
In Martínez Valero, Elche wanted more than Granada in the midst of their need, and added a point that keeps them out of relegation after the one that Alavés also achieved. Those of Francisco, who was expelled for his protest at halftime, were involved one more day in the arbitration controversy and deserved more than 0-0.
The referee annulled a goal to Carrillo, after seeing him in the VAR, for an alleged foul on goal Maximiano, but just before the break they did not review the possible penalty from the goalkeeper to the striker. There came the local tension and the agony in the resumption with the red to Diego González for a foul as a last defense.
Despite playing the second half with one more, Granada was not overly encouraged to go for the game, although Luis Suárez had a couple of good chances. The Andalusians are still on a roll, adding seven games in a row, to move away from the relegation zone, while Elche regrets another controversial game and that risky position.