A late Betis goal denies Marcelino’s side after a dominant performance
Villarreal were the better side against Real Betis, but could not make it count on the scoreboard (2-2). The Andalusians equalised at the death in an entertaining encounter in which the Yellow Submarine deserved all three points for being a step above their opponents in both play and chances. The Yellows went 2-0 up through Buchanan and Moleiro, but a brace from Antony forced a draw, making it 2-2 in the final moments.
After the international break, the Submarine returned to league action with a top-of-the-table clash against the side from Seville. Third faced fourth in a promising and exciting match at the Estadio de la Cerámica.
To go for the win, Marcelino lined up with Arnau Tenas in goal; a back four of Pau Navarro, Rafa Marín, Renato Veiga and Alfonso Pedraza; a midfield featuring Buchanan, Santi Comesaña, Parejo and Moleiro; and a forward line made up of Tani Oluwaseyi and Gerard Moreno, the big news of the day. The legendary Catalan striker returned to the starting XI after two months out of action.
Betis started the game with more intensity than Villarreal, with Manuel Pellegrini’s men having the first chances. Early on, Arnau Tenas produced a fine save to deny Cucho Hernández in a one-on-one after a long ball. Soon after, Renato Veiga blocked another effort from the Colombian forward.
Halfway through the first half came Villarreal’s best chance so far, as Buchanan’s shot was stopped by Pau López after a brilliant through ball from Alberto Moleiro behind the Betis defence. From that point on, Marcelino’s side grew into the game.
By the half-hour mark, Villarreal had taken control of possession and continued to create danger. Tani Oluwaseyi could have opened the scoring for the Submarine after being played through by Buchanan, but his left-footed effort was again kept out by Pau López.
Just before half-time, Villarreal took the lead thanks to a stunning strike from Buchanan. The Canadian unleashed a thunderous right-footed shot from long range that left Pau López with no chance, making it 1-0. The Yellows went into the break ahead.
Early in the second half, Oluwaseyi had a great opportunity to double Villarreal’s lead. The lively Canadian forward couldn’t quite finish off a Buchanan cut-back, following another clever through ball from Moleiro.
Betis also had their moments after the restart, with Abde and Cucho both testing the defence in quick succession. The first was blocked by the groguet backline, while the second saw Cucho narrowly miss after breaking the offside trap.
Just after the hour mark, Villarreal struck again. In the 63rd minute, Moleiro made it 2-0, finishing off a quick transition started by Santi Comesaña. The Galician carried the ball forward, released Pepe down the right, and the full-back delivered a superb cross for the onrushing Moleiro to slot home with precision.
The joy was short-lived. Only three minutes later, Antony pulled one back for Betis with a left-footed strike to make it 2-1, capping off a swift counterattack from the visitors.
The goal gave Betis a boost, and they pushed forward in search of an equaliser. Villarreal defended bravely and looked to hit on the break through fresh legs in Pepe, Ayoze and Solomon, who all came on in the second half, but they were unable to find the decisive third goal.
Deep into stoppage time, Antony struck again to make it 2-2 and rescue a point for Betis in a high-tempo game where Villarreal were the superior side and deserved to win.
