The fourth official indicates an additional three minutes at the end of the match.
90'
Vitolo slips a wonderful pass through the defence for Juanfran to cross it into the Betis penalty area, but Morata’s attempted overhead kick triggers the referee to blow his whistle for a free-kick as the Spain international is deemed to have raised his boot too high during the acrobatic attempt.
89'
Unbelievably risky defending from Betis as a cross comes into the penalty area from the right and Mandi meets it with a deft chest flick directed back towards his goalkeeper who grabs it above his head. It’s certainly not traditional centre-back play, but the hosts escape yet again.
87'
Pau López gets yellow.
Lopez is shown a yellow card for wasting time during a goal-kick.
85'
Sergio León gets yellow.
Leon is the latest Betis player to be shown a yellow card as he is booked for berating the linesman who chose to give a close throw-in decision the way of Atletico.
84'
THE WALL DOES ITS JOB! Griezmann’s free-kick looks to be heading on-target but a slight touch off the head of Feddal in the barrier sends it over Lopez’s crossbar and out for a corner!
Setien uses his final substitution with six minutes left as Joaquin exits for Garcia.
83'
Javi García enters the game and replaces Joaquín.
J. Firpo gets yellow.
Betis are arguing that the ball isn’t placed in the correct position which seems more like time-wasting antics than anything else. The referee has had enough of the protestations and shows Firpo a yellow card.
82'
A. Mandi gets yellow.
More dangerous defending from Betis as Mandi is shown a yellow card for a lunging slide tackle on Vitolo just outside his own penalty area.
79'
Sidnei gives the ball away just outside his own penalty area and Griezmann latches onto it before playing Vitolo in towards goal. Before he can manage a shot, however, Lopez comes rushing off his line and grabs the ball allowing his defence to breathe a sigh of relief.
Minute
Description
77'
Griezmann sends a free-kick in from the left-hand side towards the head of Gimenez but the defender is unable to direct his header towards goal and it misses well-right of the target. Atleti must do better with their set-pieces if they want to find an equaliser!
75'
N. Kalinić enters the game and replaces Á. Correa.
Simeone rolls the dice one last time as Kalinic replaces Correa in Atletico’s final substitution.
73'
J. Firpo enters the game and replaces Francis.
Setien chooses to make his second substitution of the fixture as Firpo replaces Francis.
71'
Thomas sends an Atletico free-kick towards Rodrigo but Feddal gets his head in the way to put it out for a second chance. The follow-up disappointingly fails to beat the first man as the Rojiblancos fail to make the most of their set-piece.
69'
If the match appeared stretch prior to the goal, it should be fully open now as Atletico will be forced to pour forward in search of an equaliser while leaving themselves increasingly exposed to counter-attacks. A lack of points in this fixture would be extremely disappointing for Simeone’s side as they must capitalise after Barcelona’s draw yesterday.
65'
Penalty goal scored by Sergio Canales for Real Betis!
NO MISTAKE FROM THE SPOT AS THE HOSTS GO 1-0 UP! Oblak guesses correctly but Canales hits the penalty with pace and power – beating the goalkeeper at the bottom-right corner!
63'
Vitolo enters the game and replaces T. Lemar.
Lemar heads to the bench as Vitolo comes on with less than a half hour remaining.
61'
The match is much more stretched now with half an hour remaining as Correa gets towards the penalty area and tees up a shot for Thomas which he sends wide of Lopez’s left-hand post. The extra space in midfield is facilitating counter-attacking football and it appears as though a goal could be coming!
59'
Kaptoum takes on the Atletico defence and puts a dinked cross towards the penalty spot after getting around Hernandez, but the ball doesn’t reach a team-mate and the visitors can smuggle it away. More impressive play from the Betis debutant!
57'
Canales wastes a great chance as he goes on a slaloming run which sees him get to the edge of the penalty area with Partey trailing behind him. He has time to look up and pick his corner before swinging his left boot at the ball, but the effort is a weak one and it rolls easily towards Oblak.
55'
After some pushing and shoving in front of the match official before the corner-kick can be taken, the referee has a quick word with his linesman but it appears as though the challenge hasn’t gone to an official VAR check as a corner is insisted upon! Feddal should consider himself very lucky!
54'
A bit of controversy here as Morata enters the penalty area and goes down under the sliding challenge of Feddal. The referee awards a corner-kick but it appears as though the defender made contact with the striker first! It looks as though a penalty could be awarded if it goes to VAR!
52'
Sidnei enters the game and replaces Marc Bartra.
Bartra is in visible pain which Setien recognises immediately. The manager does not want to risk further issues and sends Sidnei on in his place.
51'
L. Hernández gets yellow.
Hernandez is booked for a foul after a fast and intense spell of play in midfield.
50'
Betis are sticking to the manager's instructions and playing it out of the back at every opportunity. Barragan loses possession to Partey just outside the penalty area and that almost leads to a goal-scoring opportunity if not for a wonderful last-ditch slide tackle which earns the hosts possession once again.
48'
Juanfran plays a dangerous early cross into the penalty area for Griezmann but it just goes over the France international’s head and too far in front of Morata for him to turn it in at the far post.
46'
Filipe Luís enters the game and replaces S. Arias.
Filipe Luis replaces the previously booked Arias at half-time on his return from injury, which sends Juanfran to the right-hand side as Luis occupies his usual left.
Atletico get the second half underway from the kick-off!
45'
HALF-TIME: REAL BETIS 0-0 ATLETICO MADRID.
43'
Both managers will have to be somewhat pleased heading into the interval level at 0-0, as both sides are still more than capable of winning the match. It may take some crafty management and an introduction of substitutes to turn the tide, as the two look very even despite the distance between them in the league table.
41'
Á. Correa gets yellow.
Kaptoum splits two midfielders and sprints away with a burst of youthful pace but Correa takes the Betis player’s legs out from under him and earns a yellow card.
40'
S. Arias gets yellow.
Arias is shown the match’s first yellow card for a badly timed lunge on Francis which sends the left-winger to the ground in pain.
38'
Canales attempts to get around Juanfran near the touchline is foiled, though replays suggest the full-back used his hand to control the ball. Despite the protestations, the referee fails to bring play back or consult VAR which angers the home crowd.
36'
With half-time less than 10 minutes away, neither side has looked impressive enough to deserve a lead. The 0-0 is an accurate reflection of the lack of goal-mouth action, despite Betis’ early chance from the corner – which remains their only shot on target so far.
34'
Griezmann looks quite frustrated as another attack breaks down around the penalty area. Frustration is starting to creep in as Betis are packing their own 18-yard box and charging down anything that comes near Lopez in goal. Lemar needs to be more involved in breaking down the defence instead of piledriving long-range efforts as it continually allows the hosts to clear easily.
30'
Griezmann looks to curl a cross towards the edge of the penalty area after some neat stepovers but the ball intended for Lemar doesn’t reach its target as Barragan reads the play perfectly and clears it.
28'
Atletico Madrid’s attack haven’t linked up quite as seamlessly as one would think considering all their attacking talent on the pitch. It’s quite evident that Griezmann and Morata have not played together much as there doesn’t appear to be much chemistry yet. However, with Costa and Kalinic failing to impress for much of the season, it’s a gamble Simeone is willing to take.
26'
There is some action on the touchline as Simeone has apparently instructed Vitolo to begin his warm-up. It’s unclear whether or not there is an injury to one of the Atletico Madrid players on the pitch, but the manager will surely wait as long as he can before making any switch in the first half.
24'
Canales and Kaptoum manage to simultaneously slide tackle Griezmann from behind which wins the Atletico Madrid forward a free-kick in midfield. It’s taken quickly which allows Lemar to find some room, but he is unable to fashion anything at all as Betis once again quash the danger.
22'
Canales plays Barragan forward with a leading pass but an incredible sliding challenge from Juanfran puts the ball out of play for a throw-in which significantly slows down the Betis attack and forces them to play it back into midfield.
20'
Atletico Madrid are unbeaten in their last 12 LaLiga games against Betis (W9 D3) since Diego Simeone’s arrival, keeping eight clean sheets in the process.
18'
Neither side have really managed to get a stranglehold on the tie with both sides fashioning half-chances but nothing more. An early Oblak save from a corner is the closest attempt at goal we’ve seen in the opening 20 minutes, which should delight Simeone.
16'
Hernandez leans into Leon and knocks him to the ground during a tussle for the ball much to the frustration of the home support. The referee disagrees and allows play to continue instead of awarding Betis a free-kick in a profitable position which allows Atleti to take it the other way to start an attack of their own.
14'
Leon plays a lovely ball over the top of Atleti’s defence for the onrushing Barragan but the interchange is brought to a halt as the linesman’s flag goes up for offside.
12'
Atletico Madrid have a free-kick some distance from the Betis penalty area. Lemar swings it in towards the penalty spot with a big kick, but Morata can only make slight contact with his head – sending it harmlessly towards Lopez once again.
10'
Morata’s first shot in an Atletico Madrid jersey is poor as his attempted curler from the left-hand side of the penalty area is aimed directly at the grateful gloves of Lopez who makes the simple catch.
9'
Joaquin’s cross is disappointing as Rodrigo is there to meet it with a confident clearing header at the near post.
8'
Betis win a free-kick on the right-hand side near the touchline after a wonderful bit of skill from Leon. It’s in a great position for a cross, can the hosts take advantage?
7'
Lemar receives a pass from Griezmann just outside the penalty area and has a crack but the initial shot is blocked at the outset. The ball trickles to the left but Juanfran’s cross goes unmet and rolls across the face of goal before it’s cleared by Feddal.
5'
Griezmann moves across the face of the penalty area from right to left looking for a successful one-two pass which will open up room for a shot. The Betis defence holds strong and manages to see out the attack as Lemar’s eventual cross ends up in the arms of Lopez.
3'
Dominance in midfield will certainly be important in this fixture as there will almost certainly be a lack of space with which to manoeuvre. It’ll be a stern test for the likes of Kaptoum – as the former Barcelona B player is starting in his first LaLiga fixture today.
1'
Real Betis get the match underway from the kick-off!
Hello and welcome to our LIVE commentary of the LaLiga fixture between Real Betis and Atletico Madrid!
Real Betis enter today’s fixture in high spirits after a midweek victory over Espanyol earned them a Copa del Rey semi-final tie against Valencia. Sitting ninth in the table, three points would bring Quique Setien’s side into a tie for fifth place and a prized Europa League spot. It won’t be made easy for them at the Estadio Benito Villamarin, as Atletico Madrid’s defence is far and away the best in the division.
Barcelona’s draw with Valencia yesterday means that Atletico Madrid can cut the gap between themselves in second and the pace-setting Blaugrana to a narrow three points. With four wins in their last five matches and a domestic unbeaten run that last saw them lose at the beginning of September – Diego Simeone once again has his side fighting for top honours despite poor performances, some less than stellar transfer business and an ever-lengthening injury list.
The head-to-head results narrowly favour Atletico Madrid who have managed 20 wins against Betis, while today’s hosts have only emerged victorious over the Rojiblancos on 11 occasions. Quique Setien has managed to turn the Villamarin into a bit of a fortress, with only one home loss since October – a respectable 2-1 defeat to Real Madrid. The crowd will have to do their fair share today to urge their side forward, as Atletico will certainly set up in their traditional defensive shape and look to nick a victory on the road.
ATLETICO MADRID SUBS: Filipe Luis, Francisco Montero, Nikola Kalinic, Joaquin Munoz, Cristian Rodriguez, Vitolo, Antonio Adan.
ATLETICO MADRID XI (4-4-2): Jan Oblak; Santiago Arias, Jose Gimenez, Lucas Hernandez, Juanfran; Angel Correa, Thomas Partey, Rodrigo, Thomas Lemar; Alvaro Morata, Antoine Griezmann.
REAL BETIS SUBS: Sidnei, Jese, Giovani Lo Celso, Loren Moron, Junior Firpo, Javi Garcia, Joel Robles.
REAL BETIS XI (3-5-2): Pau Lopez; Zouhair Feddal, Marc Bartra, Aissa Mandi; Francis, Sergio Canales, Andres Guardado, Wilfrid Kaptoum, Antonio Barragan; Sergio Leon, Joaquin.
With 15 minutes to go before kick-off, the team news has been confirmed! Let's start with the home side!
Real Betis are using the wings to their advantage, forgoing the packed centre of the park and opting to attack time and time again with Canales and Barragan on the right. Juanfran has done exceptionally well despite often being left isolated due to Lemar’s high starting point – though Setien’s side have had more than enough opportunites to make their opponents pay. They will have to get Francis involved more after the restart, and perhaps allow Kaptoum – who had some brilliant flashes in his first 45 minutes of LaLiga action – to take more control of the pace of play.
Despite the incredible attacking talent on the pitch, neither side has been able to take a hold of the match or trouble the opposition goalkeeper in any meaningful way. An early Oblak save from a Feddal corner kept the match level early on, but it was the only save he would make in the first 45 minutes. Atletico look quite good going forward until they reach the edge of the 18-yard box, but a distinct lack of someone who can unlock a defence, and poor service to Morata has restricted Simeone’s side to only one shot on target – a weak curler from the former Chelsea striker.
Real Betis are back in action on Thursday when they will contest the first leg of their semi-final tie with Valencia in the Copa del Rey. Atletico Madrid take to the pitch again on Saturday when they host Real Madrid in the derby.
That concludes our commentary of the fixture between Real Betis and Atletico Madrid! We hope you enjoyed it!
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