Manuel Pellegrini prefers to focus on the players and offense in an age of complex structures and a league obsessed with defensive organization. Let’s talk about how his Real Betis plays a more offensive game and optimizes for players, using player relationships instead of a rigid structure. Written by José Pérez. Strangely, Manuel Pellegrini chose […]
In a wasteful performance from Villarreal, they threw away a number of quality chances that easily could have earned them two or three goals on another night. Real Betis were not much better, though they were able to put one past Villarreal’s elite defense and see out their well-earned lead to vault themselves back into […]
In a match between the two top sides in LaLiga (the only teams with three wins from three matches), the reigning champions outclassed their competition. It was a lively match, with both teams playing quick attacking football, but Real Madrid’s higher quantity (and quality) of chances allowed them to find the back of the net […]
Barcelona’s tactical setup gave them advantages over Betis in this match, however it took them some time to finally make it count. Before that could happen, Xavi’s side also had to deal with a few dangerous Betis attacks, particularly in transition. In the end it was Jordi Alba who won the game for Barcelona late […]
It took extra time and penalties for Manuel Pellegrini’s Real Betis to overcome a steadfast Valencia side. Valencia’s conservative approach (and the woodwork) kept them in the match, though a miss from Yunus Musah in the penalty shootout would end up being the factor that saw them fall short of the title. Tactical analysis and […]
This was a fairly even match between two sides in the hunt for European football next season. Real Betis showed the defensive solidity and organization that they have lacked for much of the season, and this helped them maintain their single goal lead over Athletic Club even after going down a man late on in […]
Though Sevilla only won by a single goal, it could have been far more for the hosts. The first half saw Sevilla create chance after chance, taking advantage of the lack of organization of Real Betis’ defense, especially in transition moments. However, Sevilla found it difficult to finish off the vast majority of their chances, […]
Sevilla’s domination over Real Betis in the first half of the match was only strengthened in the second due to a red card to Guido Rodríguez just before half-time. A thunderous strike from Marcos Acuña and an own goal from Hector Bellerín gave the away side the three points in El Gran Derbi. Tactical analysis […]
Real Madrid came into this game hungry for the three points, but even that seemed insufficient to satiate the home team. Drained of energy, their 4-3-2-1 press looked jaded from the off while their attacking enterprises struggled to put up a sustained threat. Alterations from the sideline hoped to turn the tide, but an all […]
Given their off form, a derby day matchup against a competitive Real Betis outfit was one of the last things Sevilla would have wanted. But despite their usual tactical issues, a mixture of individual decisiveness and collective grit saw them take a much-needed three points. Tactical analysis and match report by Emmanuel Adeyemi-Abere. Sevilla’s season […]