Real Betis 1-0 Real Mallorca

Sid Lowe led with ‘Prediction time: first sacking of season, Michael Laudrup’. The Dane, whose relationship with the club’s board has seemingly broken down, watched on as his side fell to a 1-0 defeat away to La Liga newcomers Real Betis. A Rubén Castro goal with just three minutes to go sealed Mallorca’s fate.

The heat was on for Laudrup, and not just because of the near 40°C temperature in Seville due to the midday kick-off. But both Dudu Aouate and Juan Calatayud recovered to take their places in the starting XI and on the bench respectively.

There was no place in the XI for Chori Castro though, despite the exit of Jonathan de Guzmán, with Sergio Tejera taking the attacking midfielder’s role with Tomás Pina partnering João Victor in central midfield with the absence of Pep Martí.

Emilio Nsue had a decent early chance for Mallorca. He cut inside from the left but his tame shot was turned away by Casto. But despite the lively pace, and the Real Betis control, the match failed to produce any real talking incidents in the first half until there were just two minutes to go.

Down the right wing, Gianni Zuiverloon attempted to cross the ball with the outside of his right foot which was easily intercepted and Real Betis broke away on the counter attack. Rubén Castro ran at, and then took the ball around, Iván Ramis before beating Dudu Aouate with his left footed shot. His shot didn’t beat the post, however, and the ball rebounded away. Molina, unchallenged from 7 yards, could only head the ball down into the ground as it bounced up and hit the bar. His next attempt, from 3 yards under a Dudu Aouate challenge, again hit the crossbar before left back Pablo Cáceres cleared the ball.

In the second half, Betis had another good attempt but were denied by the strong left hand of Dudu Aouate.

There was no doubt, however, that Emilio Nsue should’ve given Mallorca the lead. Clean through on goal, his attempt from the edge of the area was placed wide of the goal failing to make the goalkeeper work.

On-loan striker Roque Santa Cruz failed to get enough of a connection to a diagonal Betis free-kick as the ball sailed wide.

The pace fell out of the game as the midday heat took its toll on both teams. But that didn’t mean the end of the match. Immediately after new signing Tissone made his debut coming on for a disappointing Alejandro Alfaro with three minutes to go, Real Betis had a corner.

Dudu Aouate came for the cross and got no way near it as the ball sailed right over him. Poor marking from Mallorca left Rubén Castro free at the back post to volley a shot into an empty net. A goal for Real Betis, no more than they deserved, more work required on the training pitch for Laudrup and his men.

Teams

Real Betis (4-2-3-1): Casto; Chica, Amaya , Dorado, Nacho; Iriney, Beñat; Sevilla  (Vadillio 68), Rubén Castro, Montero (Pereira 69); Molina (Santa Cruz 74).
Substitutes: Goitia (gk); Ustaritz; Vadillo, Matilla, Juanma; Pereira, Santa Cruz.
Goal: Rubén Castro 87.

Real Mallorca (4-2-3-1): Aouate; Zuiverloon, Ramis, Chico , Cáceres ; João Victor , Pina ; Alfaro (Tissone 87), Tejera (Kevin 66), Nsue; Hemed (Castro 59).
Substitutes: Calatayud (gk); Cendrós, Martí Crespí, Kevin; Tissone, Castro; Víctor.

Referee: Carlos del Cerro Grande (ESP)
Stadium: Estadio Benito Villamarín, Seville
Attendance: 35,000

Highlights of this game can be found on Betis Web.