Sevilla won the Seville derby against Betis thanks to Lukebakio’s penalty goal
Sevilla beat Betis 1-0 thanks to a 50th-minute goal from Belgian Dodi Lukebakio, who converted Diego Llorente’s penalty, in a match at Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan in which the Seville side dedicated the victory to their captain. Jesus Navas, who played his last derby and at the age of 28 became the footballer who played the most in the history of these matches.
In the match, Betis received three more points, but with the disadvantage that it was only on Friday that he began to prepare for this match, which he played on Thursday in Poland against Legia de Warsaw, although his coach also played in this tournament. Chilean Manuel Pellegrini made up to nine changes to the starting XI.
One of those who did not play and even stayed in Seville was their player in the best form, the Argentinean Giovani Lo Celso, who was rested to return to the title this Sunday as the greatest asset of the white-greens after defeat (1 – 0) and poor They left their image in Poland.
At Sevilla, Jesus Navas, who said goodbye to the derby this Sunday after announcing that he would retire from football next December, initially remained on the bench, but striker Isaac Romero returned to the starting line-up after he was injured on the field. started the match against Alaves and was eliminated in the next two matches – against Valladolid and Athletic.
It was clear in the preview that both teams like to be the protagonists on the ball, but it was Sevilla who achieved it from the start, attacking the game on their right flank with a dangerous strike from Dodi Lukebakio and missing out on a goal against the Nigerian. Chidera Ejuke was caught offside against France’s Lucien Agume.
It took Betis a quarter of an hour to appear in the local area, first with a shot from the Brazilian Vitor Roque without problems over the Norwegian goalkeeper Orjan Nylan, and then with a big force from Lo Celso over the top, although the Argentine had a chance a few minutes later, but the ball hit the stumps rods.
These attempts coincided with a decrease in the intensity of Sevilla’s play, thanks to which the guests managed to balance the game in the center of the field and create problems for the local defense, which Vitor Roque was unable to take advantage of a couple of times due to Nilan’s success.
With things much more open, the final minutes of the first half were played, after initial local fury was neutralized by greater security from the visitors and they went into the break 0-0, leaving the game wide open when it resumed.
The second half began in the most successful way for Sevilla: Agume’s header from a free kick ended with the ball hitting Diego Llorente’s hand, which, after consultation with VAR, was regarded as a penalty. Lukebakio made it 1:0.
Betis found it difficult to adapt to the new situation and Pellegrini moved his bench a quarter of an hour before the start of the second period, so that Cedric Bakambu and Aitor Ruibal gave more options to the team in search of a draw, to the extent that the Congolese striker scored a goal, although and invalid because he is clearly offside.
With Jesus Navas already in the game and playing his final derby after announcing his retirement the following December, Sevilla were in control, although they were in further trouble when they lost French centre-back Tanguy Nyanza in the 89th minute. when he saw the second yellow card. map.
This fact, on the other hand, was compensated in the delay of the match by the injury of Betis’ Brazilian central defender Nathan de Sousa, who could not be replaced as his team had exhausted the substitution window and had to endure on the field. visibly affected, but will not be able to help avoid your team’s defeat.