BETIS-LEVERKUSEN | Bittersweet madness for Betis

The madness ended in a draw. Neither Betis nor Bayer Leverkusen managed to reign in an offensive battle of the highest level that did not find a winner. Both meet in two weeks to resolve again a leadership of group G that is still very open. Those of Pellegrini lived between heaven and hell for ninety minutes that hoped with Borja Iglesias’ goal and sighed with a saving stop by Claudio Bravo in the last breath. Nobody disappointed. But perhaps no one left fully satisfied.

Leverkusen did not take long to exploit its virtues and apply them to Betis’ weak points. Diaby destroyed Montoya with her speed and only the appearance of Bravo prevented disaster at 37 seconds.. Five minutes later, the Frenchman re-emerged on that left wing to dodge Montoya, dribble past Bravo and watch Alario spoil his new show of strength. The wood, after ten minutes, was the savior of the Verdiblancos after a strategic action by Leverkusen. Without Channels, he suffered the Betic spinal cord. Carvalho was the victim of intense pressure from the German team and Fekir could barely turn towards the rival goal. But the passing of the minutes gave Betis some breathing space, which after 20 minutes found its best approach with a good shot from Borja Iglesias whose rejection Aitor Ruibal could not execute with everything in favor.

Diaby and Bellarabi took a break and Betis tried to have more starts since Carvalho understood that he should have more weight in the stake. The round trip did not suit Pellegrini’s, who found in Ruibal’s fight and Borja Iglesias’ help more air than hope. The Panda partnered well with Fekir in an action within the area that was saved by the towering Tapsoba, but neither Betis nor Leverkusen were in their best context. The forces were equalized before the break while Villamarín roared to contribute their bit.

Pellegrini varied his plan to fix deficiencies. He wanted to speed up and put Álex Moreno and Lainez on the scene. The team thanked it, who signed a brilliant fifteen minutes on the restart. The Mexican damaged the German team with his mobility, confirming that he is ready after his injury. It caused fouls and opened spaces. Leverkusen maintained their intention to play vertigo, but their wings no longer seemed so damaging and they pulled Wirtz and Schick for the last quarter of an hour. It was from set pieces when the green-and-white smile lengthened in full stretch of brilliance. Canales threw a set piece into the area and Frimpong unintentionally touched the ball with his left arm. The VAR ruled the penalty and Borja Iglesias did not forgive.

Betis wanted to calm the shock with the score in favor, but failed. Paulinho gave Leverkusen even more strength and bad fortune crossed Betic fate after a deflection by William Carvalho after a shot that hardly seemed to unsettle Bravo. The 1-1 hit both the Pellegrini team and the Verdiblancas stands. The Betic team did not throw in the towel, which tried to connect with the freshness of Juanmi and Willian José, although It was Leverkusen who could take the glory in the last gasp with a shot from Demirbay that found in Claudio Bravo an answer as outstanding as the game was. Soccer lives daring. And Betis now dreams of reigning in Leverkusen to say their last word.