MADRID, 30 Nov. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Real Betis lost (1-0) this Thursday against Sparta Prague on the penultimate day of the group stage of the Europa League, complicating the road to the crossroads with a mandatory match against Rangers in two weeks.
Manuel Pellegrini’s team, which rotated a lot and did not find a competitive team, was overwhelmed in the epet ARENA in Prague without finding a good version of its most vital men. In the first half, Nabil Fekir showed that he still lacks rhythm after his injury, and in the second Isco did not have the role he usually plays.
Betis dominated the first half, with the game under control although there was only one good chance, from Borja Iglesias, far from his best moment. The green and white team also grew with the actions of Assane Diao, but did not have much more arrival, although it did not suffer in its area beyond the attempts of Lukas Haraslin.
The Slovakian midfielder ended up being decisive for the locals, since his was the goal that reigned on the scoreboard, in the 54th minute, after a quick and intentional throw-in by Sparta. After the break, Pellegrini had introduced Isco for Fekir, but Betis did not have the ball and the Malaga native went unnoticed.
Furthermore, it was the Czech team that went one step further and looked further up, achieving that 1-0 that heated up Group C in a big way. The strength of Guido or the entry of Ayoze and Luiz Henrique did not change the secondary role of a Betis that had a header from Borja Iglesias and another chance from Isco to at least scratch the tie.
The center of the Betic brain did not find a finisher, but walked around the area and came out just wide of the post. Sparta forgave the second in stoppage time, which would have given them the ‘goal average’ with the Beticos. Pellegrini’s men thus take the difficult path, with the risk of elimination, although if they beat Rangers at home on the last day they will be in the second round as group winners.