Real Betis Balompie [R]

Mathc report:

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Real Betis 1-0 Racing Santander


SEVILLE, March 22 (Primera Liga) - A first-half goal from Edu Schmidt was sufficient for Real Betis to pick up three points against fellow strugglers Racing Santander and climb out of the bottom three.

Racing were left with a mountain to climb when Pablo Pinillos was sent off for a foul on Joaquin Sanchez after 29 minutes.

And the hosts capitalised when they secured the match with a well-taken goal from Edu.

Edu was in the thick of the action from the very start of the match and after three minutes he headed the ball against the post after latching onto a free-kick from his fellow Brazilian Marcos Assuncao.

Edu had another crack at goal just three minutes later when he collected a pass from Fernando Varela but his shot was saved at the expense of a corner by Dudu Aouate.

That finally sparked the first signs of life from Racing and after seven minutes Antonito Perez tried his luck with his right foot but to no avail.

Once again Edu had a chance when he got his head to a cross from Joaquin but he was wide of the mark.

Betis goalkeeper Pedro Contreras was then called into action after 19 minutes when he saved a free-kick from Francisco Casquero.

Edu then turned provider when he forged an opening for Joaquin but the Spanish international winger was foiled by the agile Dudu.

The game started to swing against Santander when Pinillos got his marching orders for a recklessly late tackle on the fleet-footed Joaquin.

Dudu made another important save after 34 minutes when he saved a Dani Martin header after good work again from Joaquin.

Dani then set up an opportunity for Edu who tried his luck but Dudu was once more to the rescue for the visitors.

However, the Santander defence finally yielded after 37 minutes.

Dani collected the ball on the left side of the Racing penalty area and centred the ball to Edu who had an easy task of tucking the ball away.

Edu almost added a second goal of the night when he got his head to another cross from Joaquin but Dudu managed to make the save.

Betis went to the dressing rooms a goal and a man to the good and were also first out of the blocks in the second half.

Joaquin played provider once more as he created an opportunity for Varela whose left footed shot from the edge of the area was just wide of the mark.

At the other end, Contreras was called on to make another save when he held a header from Oscar Serrano Matabuena.

Varela went close again for Betis but Racing had a chance to equalise with 13 minutes to play.

Lozano Oriol got his head to a free-kick taken by Diaz Ayoze but his header went wide of the goal.

Betis could have ended the game with a second goal after some enterprising play from Joaquin but the Spanish international was once again denied by Dudu.

 

Here is a preview to this weekends match against Villareal.

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CASTELLON, March 24 (Primera Liga) - Villarreal defender Rodolfo Arruabarrena has urged his team-mates to concentrate on their crucial league game on Saturday against Real Betis and forget the upcoming Champions League tie with Internazionale.

Manuel Pellegrini's side entertain struggling Betis knowing they must win to keep alive their hopes of securing a European place - unless of course they were to end up winning the Champions League itself.

Villarreal's first-ever Champions League quarter-final appearance after beating Rangers on away goals in the last round shows just how far the club has developed.

But with Betis desperate for the points as they battle relegation, Arruabarrena knows his side must remain focused on the match at the Estadio El Madrigal instead of thinking ahead to their European adventure.

He said: ``It would be an error for us to start thinking about the Inter game now even though it will be a massive occasion for us. We have to play Betis first and they are easily capable of taking advantage if we are not fully concentrated.

``We fully respect all the teams that we play against but this match in particular is vital to us as it has been a long time since we won and it would be a big confidence boost if we could pick up three points.''

Villarreal`s 1-1 midweek draw against Valencia was their third in a row and they were left to rue wasted opportunities after Juan Roman Riquelme`s penalty miss cost them two points.

Argentinian international Juan Pablo Sorin is on the verge of a return after a month on the sidelines with a calf strain he picked up playing for his national side, while Roger Garcia, who missed the Valencia game due to a shoulder injury, is also in the running for a return.

Meanwhile, Real Betis winger Joaquin Sanchez has no doubts about his team's ability to move clear of the relegation zone.

Betis climbed out of the bottom three with their 1-0 win over Racing Santander in midweek and Joaquin believes their recent performances have silenced the critics.

He said: ``We are capable of achieving everything and we have a good chance of moving up the table. I have already said that we have shut a lot of mouths up after the victory in Santander because people have been questioning our style of play on the pitch.

``Though I think that we haven't got anything to prove to anybody, two weeks ago we were in the relegation zone and for many it appeared impossible that we could recover. Personally I am enjoying my football, I feel very comfortable on the left wing as I like the opportunity to be able to move in-field.''

 

Great result from Villareal a 1-2 victory and 3 big points for er beti. Ref blew final whistle at same time a penalty was committed against a Villareal player and they hit two of the bar. It's about time we get some luck!

11' 0 - 1 Robert
23' 0 - 2 Robert
79' 1 - 2 Sorin

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Here's the match report:

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Villarreal 1-2 Real Betis


VILLARREAL, March 25 (Primera Liga) - Real Betis picked up three points that pull them further away from the relegation zone against a Villarreal side that may or may not have been distracted by their impending Champions League quarter-final with Internazionale.

Robert De Pinho scored two first-half goals for the visitors from Seville and, although Juan Pablo Sorin pulled one back for Villarreal, the hosts did not manage to get back on terms.

It was an important three points at El Madrigal for the Andalusians, who climbed further towards safety with the result, but Villarreal were left rueing a late disallowed goal and the rejection of what looked a good penalty claim.

Villarreal fielded their strongest available side despite their imminent European assignment and they started well enough, pressing forward and creating a number of half-chances.

However, Betis stunned their hosts after 11 minutes when Brazilian winger Edu produced a stunning cross from the right for countryman Robert.

The former PSV striker made a run to the near post before glancing a header past Sebastian Viera to open the scoring.

Twelve minutes later, Robert doubled his and Betis' tally.

Villarreal captain Quique Alvarez was caught in posession on the edge of his own area.

The Betis striker seized upon the mistake, surging into the box before rifling the ball high inside the near post to give Viera no chance.

Eight minutes before the break, Villarreal should have reduced their arrears when Juan Roman Riquelme picked a hole in the Betis defence with a superb through ball.

It found the run of Guillermo Franco and left him one on one with Pedro Contreras and the former Monterrey player took his shot early, leaving the Betis goalkeeper floundering, but the ball just drifted away from the far post.

After the break, Villarreal steadily began to exert their dominance and forced Contreras into action just before the hour mark when Riquelme was allowed too much space on the edge of the area.

The Argentina playmaker hit a fierce drive from fully 25 yards that required the Betis custodian to tip the ball behind.

Eight minutes later, Riquelme went even closer as he surprised everyone by shooting direct from a corner, only to see the ball cannon off the outside of the post.

Twelve minutes from time, Villarreal did get the goal their play had deserved with Riquelme again the protagonist.

This time it was his left-wing cross that found fellow countryman Sorin on the edge of the six-yard box and the Argentina midfielder flicked the ball past Contreras with a spectacular diving header.

The hosts could sense the lack of confidence in the Betis ranks and threw everything at them in search of a second goal.

First Sorin fed Diego Forlan, who blazed wide from inside the area, before Franco did likewise after good work by Riquelme.

As the game moved into stoppage time, Villarreal thought they had got the equaliser with Franco bundling the ball home after a Riquelme corner, but the referee blew only Sorin's challenge on the goalkeeper.

There was still time for late drama as in the fifth minute of time added on, Franco broke into the area.

Substitute Victoriano Nano appeared to haul down the Villarreal striker but instead of a penalty, referee Fernando Teixeira Vitienes blew for time.

 

Real men wear Betis scarves and jerseys in the Nervion district. I have done it several times and received no bodily harm, some insults but nothing a die hard Betico can't handle, especially when Betis was ahead of Sevilla in the standings when that occurred.

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Heard about it and will see the match via TIVO when I get back home late tomorrow night!!

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"Hasta la vista and don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out!!"

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Joaquin: 'My period at Betis is finished'

MADRID, April 6 (Reuters) - Real Betis winger Joaquin has made it clear that he wants to leave the Primera Liga side at the end of the season despite having four years left on his contract.

Joaquin: Wants to leave Betis.

'I've been at Betis for many years and I now want to experience something different,' the 24-year-old Spanish international told a news conference on Thursday.

'It might be that I want to change my footballing life a little. It is possible that my period at Betis is finished and that the club needs to sell me and use that money to strengthen the team with new reinforcements.'

Joaquin, who has won 36 caps for Spain, graduated to the Betis first team from the reserves in 2000 when the club was in the second division and has been a key member of the side ever since.

Betis president Manuel Ruiz de Lopera said last season that he had rejected a bid for the player from Chelsea, while the Spanish media have also linked him at various times to Real Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia.

'For me it's very flattering that they are taking about interest from these sorts of teams,' he said. 'It is great especially when I haven't had a particularly good season.

'If I could get the opportunity to experience football in another country I would be happy to take it,' he added.

'We'll have to see what happens between now and the end of the season, but the only thing that matters to me at the moment is helping my team stay in the first division.

Betis are in 12th position in the Primera Liga, five points above the relegation zone with seven games left to play.

 

QDog you are right on regarding Lopera, he will be definitely pocket the money and laugh all the way to the bank!

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