Interesting team: Adrián; Chica, Amaya, Perquis, Nacho; Rubén Pérez, Cañas, Beñat; Pabón, Campbell, Rubén Castro. So Pabón comes straight in, presumably playing on the right. For Atleti, Falcao is back but Diego Costa has cried off. A shame - I was looking forward to trying to explain to Spanish Béticos what "Do 'im, somebody!" meant.
The game's live on Sky in the UK and Ireland, and pretty much broadcast somewhere in every country in the world, so hopefully a lot of should be able to follow the action. As ever, this is the place for comments and commentary, shouts and squeals. Musho Betis!
Betis defense looks better organized than the past few weeks. The offense has created a few chances, but still seems a little confused about what the plan is.
Posted by: Bill Mill | Sunday, 03 February 2013 at 09:36 PM
0-0 at half time. Not a bad first half, even if Betis have been on the back foot for most of it. Sound defending in all areas of the pitch.
Posted by: Adam | Sunday, 03 February 2013 at 09:48 PM
Not bad first half for Betis.
Posted by: Irmantas | Sunday, 03 February 2013 at 09:49 PM
How has Pabon looked? Is he getting any good looks @ goal?
Posted by: Robdogj | Sunday, 03 February 2013 at 10:05 PM
@Robdog he had one moderately interesting run in the first half, but that's the only time I remember him touching the ball. Betis haven't gotten the ball out of their own half in the second half.
Posted by: Bill Mill | Sunday, 03 February 2013 at 10:10 PM
"Do 'im, somebody" time!
Posted by: Theresa | Sunday, 03 February 2013 at 10:10 PM
Betis finally had some looks there, as Nacho had a good right-footed (!) shot and a cross that Ruben Castro nearly managed to take down.
Posted by: Bill Mill | Sunday, 03 February 2013 at 10:13 PM
ppffffftttt
Posted by: Theresa | Sunday, 03 February 2013 at 10:16 PM
Adrian whiffs on a corner, Diego Costa gets a free header (on poor marking by Beñat) and knocks it in.
Posted by: Bill Mill | Sunday, 03 February 2013 at 10:16 PM
Molina and Pozuelo on, Pabón and Beñat off.
Posted by: Bill Mill | Sunday, 03 February 2013 at 10:18 PM
and Diego Costa has fouled Ruben Perez with an unsurprisingly physical challenge to earn a yellow card.
Posted by: Bill Mill | Sunday, 03 February 2013 at 10:21 PM
and, now Cañas has gotten 'im, as it were.
Posted by: Bill Mill | Sunday, 03 February 2013 at 10:24 PM
and now Amaya *crushes* Diego Costa on a legal tackle, wonderful stuff.
Posted by: Bill Mill | Sunday, 03 February 2013 at 10:26 PM
and Amaya knocks down Diego Costa for basically no reason, foul but no card. It's open season out there.
Posted by: Bill Mill | Sunday, 03 February 2013 at 10:29 PM
the announcer mentions that Campbell has been subject to racist chants tonight. Atletico just continues to endear itself to Beticos.
Posted by: Bill Mill | Sunday, 03 February 2013 at 10:31 PM
Pozuelo looks very sharp.
Posted by: Bill Mill | Sunday, 03 February 2013 at 10:33 PM
Molins on for Campbell. lots of midfield play ATM, few chances for either team. Betis offense has never really challenged Courtois' goal.
Posted by: Bill Mill | Sunday, 03 February 2013 at 10:36 PM
I fear that Betis have begun to look like they did at the beginning of last season: a 4-3-3 with lots of nice midfield play, but no real ideas once they get in the attacking half.
Posted by: Bill Mill | Sunday, 03 February 2013 at 10:43 PM
and Amaya crushes Diego Costa, legally, again. DC wastes time pretending to be injured, and Cesna gets booked for timewasting on the ensuing throw-in.
Posted by: Bill Mill | Sunday, 03 February 2013 at 10:45 PM
nasty
Posted by: Theresa | Sunday, 03 February 2013 at 10:49 PM
I was able to watch the last 20 minutes - I saw someone spit on Diego Costa - why was so much hate directed to him?
Posted by: Robdogj | Sunday, 03 February 2013 at 11:09 PM
See the last paragraph of the preview, Robdogj. They really don't like him at all.
Posted by: Adam | Sunday, 03 February 2013 at 11:21 PM
Thanks Adam - I guess I need to pay attention before the matches ;)
Posted by: Robdogj | Sunday, 03 February 2013 at 11:25 PM
Amaya was having such a great game .....and then he spat on diego costa. No excuse for this sort of behaviour, full stop!
Posted by: ahsan | Sunday, 03 February 2013 at 11:46 PM
Soccer culture question: I get, but loathe, the rolling around and feigning injury by players. I don't get why players would ever tolerate someone spitting in their face and not doing anything about it? I don't like Diego Costa and all his (insert bad word here) antics and pretending, but the Betis player (I missed who) who came from off the screen and spit A LOT directly on Costa's cheek... absolutely unacceptable and, to be polite, childish. Not to sound like the aggressive American here, but if a player did that openly to another player over here, there'd be hell to pay. Check that, if just about anyone spit in another person's face over here, it would be a near immediate fight. It doesn't get much lower than spitting in someone's face. Costa? He just took it and complained to the referee again.
I wonder sometimes if the play acting so many of these players do just disguises them from being such softies (polite words, right?). Imagine someone spitting on Vinnie Jones or Roy Keane? At some point, what's a fine. I'd like to see more of these guys stand up for themselves in a real way.
Posted by: Kent | Monday, 04 February 2013 at 06:23 AM