The team is: Adrián, Ángel, Amaya, Paulao, Nacho; Joel Campbell, Cañas, Beñat, Juan Carlos; Molina, Rubén Castro. I think Pabón can count himself a bit unlucky to be left out, but he has been struggling a bit with a muscle strain this week - and, of course, Rubén is Rubén.
It's a showery evening in Seville and as I'm feeling a bit under the weather (and the game is on free-to-air TV here) I've decided to watch the game from the comfort of my sofa. Hopefully there'll be an internet stream available for those of you outside Spain, but I'll do my best to keep you updated with the key events.
Adam, on a side note, I was in Sevilla last weekend for a baseball game and we took a trip to the mall by the 'other teams' stadium. I took a pic of me wearing my Betis hat in front of the stadium and posted it on my facebook page. I got some strange looks. :)
Posted by: Kevin B. | Friday, 08 March 2013 at 09:05 PM
Good job, Kevin! (But I bet you got even stranger looks playing baseball...in Spain...in February...)
Posted by: Adam | Friday, 08 March 2013 at 09:20 PM
The game's under way - with big puddles of standing water in the centre circle, and the rest of the pitch clearly close to unplayable. Not ideal.
Posted by: Adam | Friday, 08 March 2013 at 09:32 PM
Super save by Adrian!
Posted by: Theresa | Friday, 08 March 2013 at 09:47 PM
GOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
Posted by: Theresa | Friday, 08 March 2013 at 09:49 PM
MOLIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNNNNNAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Theresa | Friday, 08 March 2013 at 09:49 PM
3 goals in 3 games, if I remember correctly. What dry spell ;)?
Campbell with a nice cross, pinpoint header!
Posted by: Theresa | Friday, 08 March 2013 at 09:50 PM
1-0. Really fantastic goal in the conditions - a sweeping move through the puddles which ended with Joel Campbell putting in a looping cross that Jorge Molina headed powerfully in. 19 minutes gone - I think that counts as the early goal we were after.
Posted by: Adam | Friday, 08 March 2013 at 09:51 PM
Also, agree that the pitch looks awful. We really should try to score more in this first half while we have the "playable" side. The ball is literally floating in some areas!!
Posted by: Theresa | Friday, 08 March 2013 at 09:52 PM
Good point, Theresa - the Gol Sur end (which Betis are attacking) definitely looks drier.
Posted by: Adam | Friday, 08 March 2013 at 09:54 PM
Also, really like the giant cow on Osasuna's shirts :)
Posted by: Theresa | Friday, 08 March 2013 at 10:12 PM
OOOoohh nice chance on the break but Juan Carlos skies the shot!!
Osasuna dominating possession
Posted by: Theresa | Friday, 08 March 2013 at 10:15 PM
1-0 at half-time. Both sides showing more splash than dash, but that's pretty understandable considering the state of the pitch. The goal is very useful indeed - I suspect both sides are going to find scoring difficult in the second half.
Posted by: Adam | Friday, 08 March 2013 at 10:18 PM
Its going to depend on who has the better 'above the pitch' game. Betis has been playing high balls most the first half other than keep pressing the through or ground balls. That should help them in then 2nd half when they play on the puddle side of the pitch. I looked like a lake in front of Adrian in the first.
Posted by: Kevin B. | Friday, 08 March 2013 at 10:26 PM
'it looked like....' not 'I looked like'.
Posted by: Kevin B. | Friday, 08 March 2013 at 10:27 PM
Min 57: the end Osasuna are attacking has dried out considerably, giving them a big advantage in the second half. Betis look a bit clueless right now.
Posted by: Adam | Friday, 08 March 2013 at 10:42 PM
Just lost my (shady, illegal) stream... tried to open up a new one and BAM! Dancing naked women on my computer in the library. Awkward.
Feliz dia de mujeres!
Posted by: theresa | Friday, 08 March 2013 at 10:44 PM
....and what about us blokies? Felicidades a todo
Posted by: ahsan | Friday, 08 March 2013 at 10:47 PM
They score.
Posted by: theresa | Friday, 08 March 2013 at 10:57 PM
1-1. That was coming. Betis have done nothing in the second half.
Posted by: Adam | Friday, 08 March 2013 at 10:58 PM
Can't say it wasn't deserved. Now we have A LOT of work to do if we want the points.
Posted by: theresa | Friday, 08 March 2013 at 10:58 PM
Frustration as Ruben wastes an fantastic opportunity. Then Nono is booked for a bad challenge (after rolling on the ground for a couple of seconds).
Posted by: Theresa | Friday, 08 March 2013 at 11:01 PM
Pabón on for Beñat. Pepe Mel, as ever, is going for the win.
Posted by: Adam | Friday, 08 March 2013 at 11:02 PM
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLL
RUBEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEENNNNNNNNNNNN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Theresa | Friday, 08 March 2013 at 11:04 PM
Goal Rubén! Sensational pass from Pabón, cool finish. Possibly offside, but who cares?
Posted by: Adam | Friday, 08 March 2013 at 11:05 PM