Real Sociedad slipped to a 3-1 defeat at La Cartuja tonight, with the home side proving more clinical than the txuri urdin. Sergio Francisco’s men, still searching for their first win of the season, will have to wait a little longer to change the momentum of their league campaign.
The evening got off to the worst possible start for the visitors as Cucho Hernández put Betis in front inside seven minutes. Real reacted quickly, though, and just four minutes later Brais Méndez struck to bring the sides level. With the scoreline even, the game settled, but the verdiblancos kept pressing with the speed of their attackers, keeping the Basques on edge. Real carved out opportunities of their own, the best being Barrene’s shot that was kept out by the keeper. As the first half drew to a close, the momentum leaned toward the txuri urdin, who went into the break with a sense of optimism.
The restart, however, proved costly. Moments after the second half began, Abde rose to glance in a header from a corner, slipping the ball past Remiro to restore the hosts’ advantage. The setback unsettled Real, who unlike in the opening period, found it difficult to respond. Pellegrini’s side pressed home their advantage, with Fornals adding a third to secure the points in Seville.
Another defeat keeps Real Sociedad from gaining traction in this difficult league start. Attention now shifts to Wednesday’s home match at Anoeta, where Mallorca will provide the next test.
Match details:
Goals: 1-0 Hernández (7’), 1-1 Brais Méndez (11’), 2-1 Abde (49’), 3-1 Fornals (69’)
Real Betis: Pau López, Bellerín (c), Llorente (Bartra 46’), Natan, Firpo (Diego 71’), Amrabat, Fornals (Roca 71’), Lo Celso (Riquelme 86’), Abde, Antony (Pablo 71’), Hernández.
Real Sociedad: Remiro, Aramburu (Aritz 75’), Zubeldia, Ćaleta-Car, Sergio Gómez, Gorrotxa (Guedes 58’), Marín (Sucic 66’), Brais Méndez, Barrene (Soler 58’), Take (Zakharyan 66’), Oyarzabal (c).
Referee: Mateo Busquets. Booked Amrabat, Natan, and Firpo (Betis), and Brais Méndez, Marín, Aramburu, Zubeldia, Ćaleta-Car, and Soler (Real).