Lionel Messi Celebrated as Greatest Soccer Player at Prestigious MARCA America Award
Oct 18 2024
Real Betis Take Control Early and Hold On Against Girona
No one expected Real Betis to steamroll Girona, especially after Girona’s recent run of sharp, possession-heavy games. But on April 21, 2025, Betis wasted no time turning the script upside down in a match that was more about ruthless efficiency than slow build-up. It was Johnny Cardoso setting the tone just six minutes in, smashing home after Girona struggled to clear their lines. The Betis fans in the away end barely had time to sit before they were on their feet again.
As Girona tried to settle, Betis showed they weren’t just there to park the bus. They pressed high, forced errors, and snapped into tackles. By the 39th minute, Antony broke loose, outpaced the defenders, and tucked in Betis’ second. And if Girona needed a wake-up call before half-time, Isco delivered one, slotting in a third just three minutes after Antony’s goal. Suddenly, Betis were three up, with Isco grinning as he jogged back to the center circle. Girona couldn’t believe how quickly things had unraveled.
Even though Girona dominated the ball—holding 61% possession and finishing with 443 passes compared to Betis’ 256—their control felt hollow. Every time Girona threaded a ball through midfield, Betis met them with well-timed tackles and remained compact. It was Betis’ directness that created chaos, not patient tiki-taka.
Girona on the Back Foot Despite the Ball
The numbers can’t hide Girona’s struggle to make their possession count. They registered eleven shots but found the target just four times. In truth, Betis always seemed ready—clearing danger a remarkable 34 times, compared to just 15 from Girona. Betis knew how to dig deep, with defenders flinging themselves in front of crosses, and their midfielders tracking back relentlessly. When Girona did break through, Paulo Gazzaniga made key stops, keeping the scoreline from becoming embarrassing on the home turf.
Both sets of players were fired up, and the referee’s pocket was busy—three yellow cards flashed over moments of frustration and late tackles. But it was Betis who looked hungrier in the 50-50 duels, forcing Girona’s best creator, Viktor Tsygankov, to spend most of his energy fighting for space. Betis head coach kept things fresh, bringing on substitutes like Vladyslav Krapyvtsov and Bojan Miovski to make sure no momentum would slip away in the late stages.
With minutes ticking down, Girona managed a glimmer of hope as Cristhian Stuani pounced on some loose defending, prodding home in the 85th minute for a consolation. But the damage was already done. The home crowd tried to rally, but Betis’ wall of defenders and tight formation held firm.
The win didn’t just grab three points for Betis—it sent a message. You don’t need 60% of the ball to boss a La Liga game; you just need the right moments and some ice-cold finishing. Girona, for all their passes, are left to wonder what’s missing up front. Betis, meanwhile, march on with confidence, having shown that smart defending and clinical counters can rip up the script against almost anyone.
Post Comment