Betis rise to third after third straight win against struggling Villarreal
Real Betis came from behind to beat Villarreal 2-1 at the Estadio de la Ceramica, making it three consecutive wins in all competitions and leaving the home side with only two points from their first five LaLiga matches.
Villarreal started with more of the ball, but Betis created the first clear chance.
Match highlight
Hector Bellerin struck from the edge of the area, only for Peter Gulacsi to make the save.
The home side soon had a big opening of their own. Gerard Moreno delivered from the left for Santi Comesana, whose close-range effort was pushed onto the post by Alvaro Valles.
Villarreal, still looking for their first win under Inigo Perez since his summer appointment, thought they had taken the lead when Carlos Romero found Tajon Buchanan. The Canada international finished beyond Valles, but VAR ruled the goal out for offside in the build-up.
That decision did not stop Villarreal. They kept pressing and went ahead around the half-hour mark. Renato Veiga headed the ball across goal, where Moreno was waiting six yards out to apply the finish.
It was an unusual situation for Betis. They had scored first in seven of their previous eight meetings with Villarreal, but this time Manuel Pellegrini’s team had to respond from behind.
They did so quickly. Abde Ezzalzouli tested Gulacsi with a shot that the goalkeeper could only parry. Cucho Hernandez followed in and finished the rebound to level the score within 10 minutes of Villarreal’s opener.
Betis completed the turnaround just before half-time. Gulacsi stopped a corner, but the ball fell straight to Natan, who had an empty net in front of him and made no mistake.
Betis continued to threaten after the break. Ezzalzouli picked out Hernandez inside the area, but Gulacsi made another save. Hernandez then broke through one-on-one with the Hungary goalkeeper and sent his effort narrowly wide of the right post.
The visitors could not find a third goal, yet they rarely looked in serious danger of losing their lead. Villarreal had possession in spells but lacked the urgency and clear ideas required to break Betis down.
The defeat adds to Villarreal’s difficult start under Perez, who replaced Marcelino in the summer. Last season’s Champions League qualifiers are now in the relegation zone after five matches, with no win and only two points.
Betis, by contrast, are building real momentum. They move up to third with 12 points from four wins and one defeat. They have won five of their last six matches in all competitions, and their response after going behind in Villarreal showed the confidence currently running through Pellegrini’s side.
