Real Betis paid the price at Old Trafford with a resounding defeat (4-1) against Manchester United in the first leg of the last 16 of the Europa League, after an even match in the first moments that decided the offensive potential of the ‘Red Devils’ in the second half.
Although the Green and Whites managed to counteract the opening goal from England striker Marcus Rashford with a superb strike from Ayoze Perez, goals from Brazilian Antony and Portuguese Bruno Fernandes at the start of the second half were enough to settle the tie, which Dutchman Weghorst made even closer with a 4-1 scoreline at the end of the game.
Manuel Pellegrini’s side, who were coming off the back of three wins and a prestige draw against Real Madrid in La Liga, ended their good run of results with a painful defeat to a United side who were back to their best. Ten Hag’s side made amends for their 7-0 drubbing at Anfield last Saturday against Liverpool in the Premier League.
So, at the ‘Theatre of Dreams’ the Green and Whites took to the pitch without complexes and with clear ideas. Manuel Pellegrini’s men applied high pressure from the start, stifling the Red Devils at times. However, a gift from the Betis defence in the fifth minute was exploited by Rashford to score the first and put an end to the doubts that had been generated.
The English striker picked up a poor clearance from Luiz Felipe in the area to fire a powerful shot into the top corner of the goal defended by Claudio Bravo. It was a blow for the Bético side who, despite staying in the game, were unable to stop the English onslaught time and time again. The Chilean goalkeeper saved a split ball with Rashford and was once again decisive, saving another good hand from the home side’s number 10.
Even so, Betis pulled on their pride to overcome the home side’s dominance and hit the Manchester side when they were at their best. Ayoze opened his goalscoring account for the Andalusian side with a stunning strike from the edge of the area that David De Gea could do little or nothing about. From that point on, the Spaniards dominated the game until the break, and even had another clear chance to score before going into the changing rooms, which the Canary Islands striker crashed against the post.
In the second half, United’s impetus was restored and, once again, they struck early on. Antony pulled a trademark shot from the edge of the box to put his side ahead and back in front. From then on, Ten Hag’s side brought out the steamroller to finish off Betis and put the game, and almost the tie, to bed before the hour mark.
This time it was Bruno Fernandes who with a superb header from a corner at the near post sent home the third of the night. The home side’s dominance, which was absolute until the final whistle, paid off again in the 80th minute when Weghorst made it 4-1. The Dutchman, who finished off the game with a delightful finish in the six-yard box, ended a match that felt like a farewell for Betis.
TECHNICAL FACTS AND FIGURES:
–RESULT: MANCHESTER UNITED, 4 – REAL BETIS, 1 (1-1 at half-time).
–-LINE-UP.
MANCHESTER UNITED: De Gea; Dalot (Wan-Bissaka, min.46), Varane, Lisandro Martinez, Shaw (Malacia, min.65),; Casemiro, Fred (McTominay, min.82); Antony (Pellistri, min.82), Weghorst, Bruno Fernandes; Rashford (Sancho, min.65).
REAL BETIS: Bravo; Sabaly, Pezzella, Luiz Felipe, Abner; Guido Rodriguez (Guardado, min.66), William Carvalho; Luiz Henrique (Ruibal, min.60), Juanmi (William Jose, min.80), Joaquin (Canales, min.59); Ayoze Perez (Borja Iglesias, min.67).
–GOALS:
1 – 0, min.5, Rashford.
2 – 0, min.31, Ayoze.
2 – 1, min.51, Antony.
3 – 1, min.58, Bruno Fernandes.
4 – 1, min.81, Weghorst.
–REFEREE: Daniel Siebert (GER). Yellow cards for Weghorst (56th minute) and Bruno Fernandes (69th minute) for Manchester United.
–STADIUM: Old Trafford.
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
