Betis pays for the broken dishes at Old Trafford
Manchester United prevails by hitting a Verdiblanco team that came to control the clash until the break
MADRID, 9 Mar. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Real Betis paid the piper at Old Trafford with a resounding defeat (4-1) against Manchester United in the first leg of the Europa League round of 16, after an even game in the early stages that decided the offensive potential of the ‘Red Devils’ in the second.
Although the Verdiblanco team managed to counter the opening goal by English striker Marcus Rashford with a great goal from Ayoze Pérez, the goals from the Brazilian Antony and the Portuguese Bruno Fernandes at the beginning of the second half were enough to settle a tie that brought the Dutch Weghorst even closer. with the definitive 4-1 at the end of the clash.
The team led by Manuel Pellegrini, who had just linked up three victories and a prestigious draw against Real Madrid in the League, ended their good run of results with a painful defeat against United who once again offered their best version. Ten Hag’s men made up for their bulging 7-0 win at Anfield last Saturday against Liverpool, in the Premier League.
Thus, in the ‘Teatro de los Sueños’ the Verdiblanco team jumped onto the pitch without complexes and with clear ideas. Manuel Pellegrini’s pupils applied high pressure from the beginning that at times drowned out the ball coming out of the ‘Red Devils’. However, a gift from the Betic defense in the fifth minute was used by Rashford to score the first and put an end to the doubts generated from the start.
The English attacker picked up a poor clearance by Luiz Felipe in the area to connect a powerful shot to the top corner of the goal defended by Claudio Bravo. An emotional blow for a Betic team that despite still being involved in the game was not able to stop the English attacks again and again. The Chilean goalkeeper saved a divided ball with Rashford and was once again decisive, getting another good hand at the local number 10.
Even so, Betis pulled with pride to overcome local dominance and hit the Manchester team when they were at their best. Ayoze opened his scoring account with the Andalusian side with a great goal from the side of the area against which David De Gea could do little or nothing. Good minutes from the Spaniards who from then on dominated until the break, even having another clear chance of scoring before going to the changing rooms and which the Canarian attacker crashed into the post.
Already in the second part, United’s momentum flourished again to, once again, strike in the first moments. Antony pulled out of his hat a trademark shot from the front to put his team ahead and get back in front. From then on, those from Ten Hag brought out the roller to finish off Betis and sentence the clash and almost the tie before the end of the game.
This time it was Bruno Fernandes who, with a superb header from a corner at the near post, put away the third of the night. The local dominance, which was absolute until the end, found its fruits again after 80′ with the final 4-1 by Weghorst. The Dutchman, who finished with pleasure in the small area, ended up closing a clash that tastes like a farewell for Betis.
–RESULT: MANCHESTER UNITED, 4 – REAL BETIS, 1. (1-1, at halftime).
MANCHESTER UNITED: De Gea; Dalot (Wan-Bissaka, min.46), Varane, Lisandro Martínez, Shaw (Malacia, min.65),; Casemiro, Fred (McTominay, min.82); Antony (Pellistri, min.82), Weghorst, Bruno Fernandes; Rashford (Sancho, min.65).
REAL BETIS: Bravo; Sabaly, Pezzella, Louis Philip, Abner; Guido Rodriguez (Keep, min.66), William Carvalho; Luiz Henry (Ruibal, min.60), John (William Jose, min.80), Joaquin (Canales, min.59); Ayoze Perez (Borja Iglesias, min.67).
1 – 0, min. 5, Rashford.
2 – 0, min.31, Ayoze.
2 – 1, min.51, Antony.
3 – 1, min. 58, Bruno Fernandes.
4 – 1, min.81, Weghorst.
–REFEREE: Daniel Siebert (ALE). He admonished Weghorst (min.56) and Bruno Fernandes (min.69) by Manchester United.
–ESTADIO: Old Trafford.
