Is there any other better way to celebrate LaLiga return than with a Seville derby? Finally the best football in the world was back after three eternal months. Now we have a month and a half ahead on the road full of games everyday where every team´s future will be decided. With a strange atmosphere as the stands are empty for now, Sevilla faces the final sprint of the season with the goal of finishing between the four first spots so they can qualify for the next Champions League edition. The battle for these spots will be one of the most exciting ones. On the other hand Betis, who have struggled to keep any momentum going until this point, do not have any margin error if they want to fight for the seventh spot. The wait has been long, but Spanish football is back. The Show Must Go On.
The match started with the expected scenario: Sevilla, with a very vertical playing style, tried to create danger through Oliver Torres in the middle, who was in charge of directing the plays. On the other side, Betis had no rush on getting to the opponent goal and preferred to keep the ball on their half. Little by little, Sevilla managed to slightly dominate, boosted by Munir and Ocampos on the wings as they looked to connect crosses with forward De Jong. Betis had been unable to find midfielders Fekir, Canales and Aleñá so far. Either striker Borja Iglesias had barely touched the ball. Still no clear chances and 0-0 at halftime. Both teams were missing on the last pass, but goals would come in the second half.
Sevilla came back from the locker-room willing to lock Betis on their box, and they pulled it off since the beginning. Ocampos put his team ahead thanks to a very controversial penalty kick on defender Bartra. He jumped over forward De Jong with his elbow extended, and referee Mateu Laoz considered it enough to make the call. Sevilla were on fire and Betis were totally KO. This way, Ocampos assisted with his back heel from a corner to Fernando, and he headed it into the net to put the 2-0 right away.
Betis ended the game attacking thanks to the substitutions that put Joaquín, Loren and Lainez on the pitch, but they did not really put Sevilla in trouble, as they had the game under control until the end. Lopetegui´s squad start off the right way on the race for the Champions League positions. Betis, coached by Rubi, stay on the middle of the table.
