Betis slows down Real Madrid due to its leadership

Merengue draw (1-1) despite going ahead with another goal from Bellingham

MADRID, 9 Dic. (EUROPA PRESS) –

Real Madrid tied (1-1) this Saturday on their visit to Real Betis Balompié, with goals from Jude Bellingham for the Madrid team and Aitor Ruibal for the Sevillians, in a match corresponding to matchday 16 of LaLiga EA Sports and in the that the second half had an intense outcome, but that hardly satisfied either team.

The meringues visited the Benito Villamarín Stadium in great shape, without complaining about the string of injuries they have in their infirmary. And despite a low shot from Marc Roca in the early stages, centered and well caught by Andriy Lunin, Real Madrid quickly showed their power.

He turned it to the left wing, Rodrygo Goes falling into that area to worry Aitor Ruibal again and again, converted to full-back. In the 6th minute, he warned the Madrid '11' with a tense cross in the heart of the area and which Luka Modric touched with his head; The talented Croatian midfielder arrived in a rush, but his hair band only kissed the ball.

Shortly after, Rodrygo claimed a penalty after a dribble against Ruibal, also on the left side of the visiting attack. And after the quarter of an hour, Rodrygo threw a shot at Germán Pezzella on the baseline; Ruibal appeared quickly to clear, but with the bad luck that the ball bounced off Rodrygo himself and ended up softly at the feet of Brahim Díaz, who he pushed into the back of the net at will.

However, an offside signal to Rodrygo in the previous assist by Jude Bellingham meant that everything was annulled. He had begun to fuel the English attacker, sitting at the forefront of the attack, although willing to move through all the spaces while his teammates looked for him.

Every gesture from Bellingham aroused anxiety in the local team, which during the first half had its clearest chance in the 31st minute. It was actually a double chance, following a counterattack in which the ball reached Ayoze Pérez on the wing. right; The Betic '10 controlled the ball, entered the area and passed to Willian José, whose shot was repelled.

Antonio Rüdiger's rebound arrived again at the feet of Ayoze, who shot from a slant and Lunin made a good intervention, sending the ball to a corner kick. Real Madrid responded in the 40th minute, with a far right shot from Modric that was very close to the post, and which the Green and White goalkeeper deflected into a corner in a semi-miss.

Upon returning from the locker room, Isco Alarcón warned of a greater Betic danger with a sideways shot on a filtered pass, well answered by a Lunin who is responding well to the mission of replacing the still limping Kepa Arrizabalaga. But apart from that, Betis slowed down.

Bellingham was to blame for this, creating a goal almost out of nowhere when the 53rd minute was running. On a loose ball next to the side line, in the three-quarter zone and apparently without danger, the young Englishman tamed that ball and started the bike ' even parallel to the front; He passed it to Brahim, who returned it to him between the rear at chest height.

BRAND BELLINGHAM, WHO ELSE

There Bellingham showed skill and speed to control with his chest and finish low as the ball fell, surprising goalkeeper Rui Silva. With dynamics in their favor, the team led by Carlo Ancelotti managed to score the second goal thanks to the insistence of Rodrygo, who found no reward.

And Real Madrid paid dearly, without condemning an opponent who suddenly woke up due to the work of Ruibal. After receiving the ball from Willian José in the Madrid field, Ruibal advanced a few meters and executed a tremendous right hand, which made something of a 'dry folha' and slipped hopelessly, near the top corner, into the goal defended by Lunin.

The merengue team's lead melted, unable to generate danger in the last half hour except for a shot by Joselu Mato, with his left foot and in the final stages, having replaced Brahim in the 79th minute. Ancelotti's changes did not work effect, but at least Betis didn't find a way to squeeze and please their fans either.

The efforts of the Villamarín stands were not rewarded, despite the fact that the center back Chadi Riad made a poisonous shot in the very last play. The Moroccan defender headed well a lateral free kick taken by Isco, already in the final extension, but Lunin skillfully deflected it over the crossbar and the referee did not give time for more.

This tie left Real Madrid with 39 points, still at the top of the First Division, but with the option of being overtaken by Girona FC (38 pts.) if they beat FC Barcelona (34 pts.) during the Sunday match session . Meanwhile, Betis remains with 26 points just behind the positions that give access to European competition.

DATASHEET.

–RESULT: REAL BETIS, 1 – REAL MADRID, 1 (0-0, at half-time).

–ALIGNMENTS.

REAL BETIS: Rui Silva; Ruibal, Pezzella, Riad, Abner; Altimira (Guardado, min.70), Roca; Ayoze (Luiz Henrique, min.82), Isco, Abde (Diao, min.61); and Willian José.

REAL MADRID: Lunin; L.Vázquez (Nacho, min.83), Rüdiger, Alaba, Mendy; Valverde, Kroos (Nico Paz, min.83), Modric (Ceballos, min.70), Brahim (Joselu, min.79); Bellingham and Rodrygo.

–GOALS:

0-1, min.53: Bellingham.

1-1, min.66: Ruibal.

–REFEREE: Soto Grado (C. Riojano). He yellow carded Ruibal (min.78) and Ayoze (min.82) at Real Betis, and Ceballos (min.90 + 6) at Real Madrid.

–STADIUM: Benito Villamarín, 52,756 spectators.