LaLiga return keeps going on with no break. 29th´s match week offered us today a derby from Andalucía between Real Betis Balompie and Granada. Home team are coming from a lost to their maximum rival Sevilla, where they were clearly lower to their opponent in every aspect of the game and so they gave a bad image to their fans. On the other hand, away team started off the right way as they managed to come back against Getafe and they are motivated to keep their good run in order to qualify for the Europa League.
Both squads presented changes on their starting lineups. Betis playing style was more organized, but they were unable to create danger forward. Granada warned through a shot by Puertas that Joel saved on the ninth minute. Their strategy was very recognizable: stay backwards to focus on defending give the ball away to their rival in order to take advantage of their mistakes and look for counterattacks. This way, Betis were on the opponents half all the time, and just when it seemed that their goal was right around the corner, Granada´s striker and key player Carlos Fernández finished an outstanding offensive transition on the 30th minute to score the first goal of the game. The match followed the same path and Betis midfielder Fekir was very close to tie it up on the extra time of the first half, but keeper Rui Silva avoided it thanks to a great save.
Second half kept the same intensity. Granada tried to defend their short lead, backing down and wasting time every time they could. Match went crazy at some moments; even Granada´s coach Diego González got a yellow card. Both teams made substitutions in order to switch the direction, but the scoreboard did not change until the 83rd minute, when defender Vallejo held incomprehensibly forward Borja Iglesias, a big mistake that ended on a penalty kick that Canales took to put the 1-1. Granada chilled down, which cost them Betis second right away in the 88th minute. Cristian Tello sent a cross towards the goal that bounced right in fron of Rui Silva and ended going in. Betis had complete the comeback, but forward Soldado made the final draw in extra time thanks to a great shot inside the box, which held Betis off from getting the win.
An agonic end that leaves coach Rubi on a bad position, as Betis are unable to go back to the winning track. On the other side, Granada leaves happy with the point that keeps them close to European spots. It is been a pitty for those who missed the last part of the game. As sports journalist Miguel Ángel Román said once, “football is beautiful when it goes crazy”.
