Bad European night for Betis in the ‘theater of dreams’, which became the scene of the worst possible nightmare for the Andalusian team. Manchester United, under heavy snowfall, got rid of the weight of the win (7-0) they received at the weekend against Liverpool, and gave a good account of the team led by Pellegrini, who was unable to find the key to control or surprise the ‘red devils’, and more than half of the tie has been left in England.
Even so, the final 4-1 was an excessive punishment for the verdiblancos. The game started cold, like the atmosphere of an Old Trafford where the Betic throats were heard more than the local ones, until a good goal from Marcus Rashford suddenly heated up the clash. The English winger is sweet this year, and he corroborated it by overtaking his team.
Despite this, Betis reacted and took control of the ball. United’s counter-attacks were dangerous, but little by little they were being locked up in their area. Half an hour into the game, in fact, the Andalusians equalized through the mediation of Ayoze Pérez. The winter signing from the Premier League already knew the stage, and rose to his height with a superb goal hit De Gea’s right post, with a beautiful exterior instep beating.
However, the bética joy lasted as long as the break lasted, because Ten Hag’s pupils went all out in the second period, and practically finished off the tie. After six minutes, Antony received a ball at the top of the area from Bruno Fernandes, and in the blink of an eye he whipped the top corner, impossible for Claudio Bravo.
Another six minutes later, with Betis still groggy, it was the Portuguese midfielder himself who won the game against the Verdiblanca defense, finishing off a corner that seemed harmless at the near post. The players of the Sevillian team kept trying without much success, crashing against a huge Casemiro in command of the Mancunian defense, and Weghorst finished off the rebound job in minute 81.
Only a thread of hope keeps Betis alive, who clings to the mystique of Benito Villamarín and the unconditional support of his fans to be able to balance the scales again and dreaming of a comeback that seems very complicated, but not impossible.
