Verdiblanco’s side beat Valencia in the round, after a 1-1 draw in 120 minutes, and lifted Her Majesty’s Trophy for the third time. The Engineer obtains his first Spanish football championship and seals the great season at the head of Betis.
It was a day for history. It was a game that could become unforgettable. And it happened. It was tense, but with the satisfaction of a job well done. Betis became Copa del Rey champions. Raised in a way closer to Chile, Manuel Pellegrini and Claudio Bravo are the monarchs of Her Majesty’s Trophy. Two Chileans who helped the Andalusian club celebrate after many years of disappointment. Finally, the Engineer has a drink in Spain, the place where he wrote great chapters of his coaching life. The debt is repaid.
Seville, or at least half the city, was revolutionized by the game. Heliopolis had high expectations, to celebrate the first Verdiblanco title in 17 years. A popular and traditional club had been waiting for something like this for a long time.
It was a final of opposing styles. Betis del Ingeniero maintained its main design (4-2-3-1) and its proposal on the right foot. Meanwhile, José Bordalás’ Valencia bet on the five-back counterattack, with a fundamental concern to break through and get out quickly.
The duel had a difficult first half, with effervescent spirits, which involved numerous fouls on both sides. The first half hour was very favorable to Betis. The handling of the ball corresponded to them, with the factor Nabil Fekir. The Frenchman played a key role both in play and as a catcher of rival offenses. In the 11th minute, an angry header from Borja Iglesias opened the account, after a cross from Bellerin. The final went as planned by the Chilean coach’s team. So much so that they finished with 70% possession of the ball during the first 45 minutes.
Still, Valencia took advantage of the spaces left by the rival defense to draw. In the 30th minute, Hugo Duro made it 1-1, scoring the ball before Claudio Bravo left. A through ball from Moriba, filtered between Betis centre-backs, left Duro alone. Following their original plan, the Valencian cast went to rest alive. The final changed as Verdiblanco’s dominance disappeared. A seemingly calm Pellegrini watched the game, thinking how to regain control (especially in the middle).
Those of Bordalás began the second period better, subduing a Betis who had difficulty in chaining. Bravo had a good intervention to avoid the second. Betis was in trouble, because in the development of the game it passed less and less. The illusion of the Andalusians was in the appearances of a fired Borja Iglesias. One point that made the finale appealing was that control was shared. Pellegrini’s men slowly regained control of the ball and finished much better. In the end, they were harmed by an unsanctioned penalty after a foul on Borja Iglesias. This action could well have prevented the extension.
A high-tension overtime brought Betis closer, although it wasn’t enough to tip the scales. They went to penalties and the Verdiblancos were very precise. They won 5-4 (Musah missed Valencia’s fourth shot), to turn jitters into hubbub for the fans who were at La Cartuja in Sevilla. Betis already has its participation in the next Spanish Super Cup in its pocket and secures, at least, a place in the Europa League (although the objective is the Champions League).
Real Betis Balompié’s third Copa del Rey is Manuel Pellegrini Ripamonti’s first title in Spanish football. After six years, he obtained a consecration. The “Come on, fuck” he released after Miranda’s last penalty served as catharsis. For Bravo, a new cut to its long list of winners. At 39, he is still strong in the top flight.
score sheet
Betis : C.Bravo; H. Bellerín, G. Pezzella, M. Bartra, A. Moreno (105′, J. Miranda); G. Rodríguez, W. Carvalho (102′, A. Guardado); S. Canales (111′, C. Tello), N. Fekir (111′, A. Ruibal), Juanmi (86′, Joaquin); and B. Iglesias (102′, Willian José). DT: Mr. Pellegrini.
Valence : G. Mamardashvili; D. Foulquier (100′, Y. Musah), M. Diakhaby, G. Paulista, O. Alderete, J. Gayá; C. Soler, H. Guillamón (85′, U. Racic), I. Moriba (79′, Thierry), H. Duro (85′, B. Gil); and G. Guedes. DT: J. Bordalas.
Goals : 1-0, 11′, Iglesias, head after Bellerin’s cross; 1-1, 30′, Duro, Bravo bravo after a pass from Moriba.
Arbitrator : A. Hernández. He admonished Carvalho, Pezzella, Iglesias, Tello (B); Paulista, Guillamon, Alderete, Thierry, Soler (V).
penalties : Betis: Willian José, Joaquín, Guardado, Tello and Miranda scored. Valencia: Soler, Racic, Guedes and Gayá scored; Musah failed.
Cartuja Stadium in Seville.
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Source: Latercera
I am Sandra Jackson, a journalist and content creator with extensive experience in the news industry. I have been working in the news media for over five years. During this time, I have worked as an author and editor at various outlets producing high-quality content that attracts readers from different demographics.
