Betis wins in their LaLiga debut
Betis secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Real Sociedad in their first LaLiga match, played in Seville. The goal came at the 63rd minute when Rodrigo Riquelme finished from close range after a precise pass from Cucho Hernández. With this result, Chilean manager Manuel Pellegrini can smile, although the match left several doubts about the team's organization.
Direct play and speed
Betis played a direct style, exploiting the pace of Takefusa Kubo and Icelandic Orri Óskarsson. In the first half, the Sevillian side tried to move quickly but without control, making their approach predictable against the Basques. Antony and Kubo had chances, but their shots were diverted or blocked by goalkeeper Álex Remiro and defender Álvaro Valles.
Lack of defensive balance
Real Sociedad displayed defensive deficiencies and an imbalance between defense and attack. In the second half, the txuri-urdin midfield failed to contain the Sevillian counter-attack. The home side benefited from the Basques’ lack of defensive organization, allowing Betis to create more chances.
Key moments and standout players
At the 58th minute, Betis introduced Isco to balance the attack. Cucho Hernández again shone, assisting Riquelme and creating other opportunities, though his penalty-area shot was diverted by the Basque goalkeeper. The Colombian also assisted Isco on another occasion, but the goalkeeper prevented a second goal.
World champion Mikel Oyarzabal was brought on in the second half, adding more hierarchy to the offense. Near the end, Oyarzabal left only Óskarsson, whose finish was saved by Valles. Croatian Luka Sucic also had a notable moment, but his shot was blocked.
Season start with a win
With the 1-0 win, Betis begins its season on a positive note, though the match revealed clear defensive shortcomings that the coach will need to address. Real Sociedad, on the other hand, will have to work on organization and balance to avoid repeating the same defensive lapses.
