Spanish Liga Weekend Rewind : Betis For Real, But Merengues Slump
It seems as though Real Betis have finally begun to play at the level expected of them since the start of the 98-99 season. It has been four years since Betis President Manuel Lopera forked out the then world record fee of $35 million to Sao Paolo for the then, newly discovered star of the1998 World Cup, Denilson. Betis looked to be on the verge of something special.
It seems as though Real Betis have finally begun to play at the level expected of them since the start of the 98-99 season. It has been four years since Betis President Manuel Lopera forked out the then world record fee of $35 million to Sao Paolo for the then, newly discovered star of the1998 World Cup, Denilson. Betis looked to be on the verge of something special.
They had progressed in the UEFA Cup falling to Chelsea in the latter stages the year before and would be competing in the competition once again.
Incomprehensibly, though, Denilson and the rest of Betis' expensive paper tigers found themselves relegated to the second division only a year later.
Denilson who appeared to be one of the worst investments since the inception of the transfer system was loaned out to his old Brazilian club Flamengo after Betis President Lopera refused to accept any offer lower than what he had paid to bring Denilson to Seville, while his team-mates toiled in the unfavourable second division. Betis eventually won back promotion and once again secured a UEFA Cup berth last season, with Denilson back in the fold, but doubts loomed over the summer as circumstances at the club were remarkably similar to their letdown a few years earlier.
Although the Spanish League season is still in its early stages with only four rounds completed, Saturday night's performance in Huelva 'at home' (the match had to be played there due to a ban on Betis' Ruiz De Lopera stadium for crowd trouble at the end of last season) to Barcelona seemed to confirm that Betis will be strong candidates for a place in next season's Champion's League and possibly even the Spanish League title. Betis certainly put in a solid performance but did not appear an overachieving side having a spectacular night but rather a rival of the same class and calibre as Louis Van Gaal's refurbished Barcelona. Thus far they have defeated Deportivo in La Coruna, were about to do the same to Real Madrid after the lights went out in Seville two weeks ago, and drew last week away to a tough Real Sociedad outfit that are now joint-leaders. The spectacular width provided by the same Denilson on the left and the new pearl of Spanish football, 20 year old Joaquin on the right was too much for Fernando Navarro and Frank De Boer and will be difficult for any tandem in Europe to contain.
Former captain Alfonso, ironically loaned to Betis from Barcelona after failing to secure a first team place there two seasons ago converted a penalty in the 26th minute after young Barca keeper Victor unnecessarily took down Capi in the box. The entire second half saw Barca unsuccessfully attempting to crack Betis' disciplined midfield and backline, while hopelessly chasing down dangerous incursions from Denilson and Joaquin.
Betis assured the result in minute 66 when Joaquin embarrassingly floored Frank De Boer with a fake and then drilled his shot past Victor after a long burst down the right wing. Varela's 83rd minute sentencing was nearly identical if even more spectacular as he weaved his way through a tentative Barca defence from the right and then smacked a high shot over the shoulder of Victor to score one of the best goals thus far in the Spanish league. Next week Betis will once again be out to prove their young legitimacy as contenders for a place in next season's Champion's League and the coveted Spanish league title when they head across to the Sanchez Pizjuan for the Sevillan derby.
'Invincible Real quite Sluggish': Real Madrid managed to sneak out of Valladolid on Saturday with a point. Hopefully the ongoing and ridiculous debate in the Madrid press over whether this Real side is 'invincible' will reach its logical conclusion after a poor performance against a theoretically inferior rival. Even before Michel Salgado's 38th minute sending off for two bookable offences in the space of 40 seconds, the `Merengues' looked confused and a shadow of their nine-time European Champion selves. Raul showed his class in a superb chip over the onrushing Bizzarri to pull Real ahead just before the break and against the run of play.
Valladolid, though, were not to be denied, especially by a Real side unaccustomed to playing defensive football and which prematurely attempted to put the game to sleep for the entire second half. Valladolid equalised in the 58th minute after Olivera was brought down in the box and then barely converted as Iker Casillas guessed right but couldn't get enough behind the ball and pushed it into the side of the goal.