Betis will have to overcome a 1-2 in Germany to be in the quarterfinals of the Europa League
MADRID, 9 Mar. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Real Betis fell (1-2) to Eintracht Frankfurt in the first leg of the Europa League round of 16 held at the Benito Villamarín, a first German assault but still alive for the Spanish team, overcome and fortunate because the defeat did not Was greater.
Manuel Pellegrini’s men were short of gasoline and the game was to leave nothing behind. Five games in a row without winning show the first complicated moment of a Betis that will have to come back next week in Germany to continue in Europe. The visiting team, tenth in the Bundesliga, went ahead twice and could have sealed the tie if it wasn’t for Claudio Bravo.
The Betis goalkeeper stopped a penalty against Santos Borré and two other very clear occasions for the Colombian. Betis found themselves with a great version of Eintracht, with intensity in the pressure and in each line, causing the locals to play poorly. Betis failed in their domain and they did not defend well either, with a 1-2 at half-time that forced them not to concede more first of all.
Kostic opened the scoring with a golden left-footed goal in the 15th minute and Fekir equalized with another display of quality. The Franco-Algerian appeared after half an hour but it was just a spark in a complicated first half for Betis. In that visitor’s intention to press up the 0-1 was born, a shot from where they usually center, but with all the intention of Kostic.
Betis claimed a foul in the action of the goal and the German team was forceful. The game entered fouls at times, little rhythm and little speed to surprise. Canales offered himself but there was only one arrival per band, from Sabaly, without finishing in a good center. With Betis uncomfortable, Fekir cooked without disheveled 1-1, but Villamarín’s euphoria lasted two minutes. That took Kamada to make it 1-2 at will, after a failed pass from central defender Edgar at the ball exit.
The Andalusian team did not change their script, they risked again at the start without the agility of other days and under very convinced pressure from the rival. Despite going ahead and away from home, Eintracht also wanted to go up. On the same play, a pass from Fekir narrowly missed Canales and, in the other area, a handball from Aitor Ruibal was signaled by the referee as a penalty.
Claudio Bravo stopped the shot and ended up as a local hero, punished by some at 0-1 and for some unsuccessful ball exit. The Chilean goalkeeper became great against Borré in a runaway arrival of the Germans recovering balls. Betis did not improve with the changes, Joaquín, Tello or Borja Iglesias, and Kostic was a constant threat, in a 1-2 to take note of Pellegrini.