This afternoon, Atlético found a boost in their cup elimination at the hands of Athletic with a victory against Betis cemented in the first half, in which they were far superior and were able to seal the outcome. Betis got into the game thanks to a goal from Carvalho on the hour mark. He had chances to equalize but Oblak held his team up.
Without Griezmann and with an attacking duo formed by Memphis Depay and Morata, Atlético came out very strong and got the game back on track very soon. After eight minutes they already won thanks to an own goal scored between Bellerín and Rui Silva.
The first part was a mattress monologue. Memphis missed a goal against Rui Silva and then in the 27th minute Soto Grado gave a penalty in favor of Atlético for Rui Silva knocking down Morata. The Portuguese goalkeeper stopped Morata’s shot, but the striker would take revenge in the 43rd minute, when he headed in a rebound from Rui Silva after a shot from Rodrigo de Paul to make it 2-0. Morata had gone eight games without scoring and now has twenty goals.
The second half began with Betis much more involved in the game against an Atlético comfortable at the back that was looking for the counterattack and was no longer pressing high like before. Mario Hermoso missed a very clear chance and in the 61st minute Carvalho increased the score to 2-1 with a thread that slipped into Oblak’s corner.
With half an hour left, the Metropolitano suffered again, a basic ingredient in Atlético’s DNA. In the 78th minute, Betis had the tie in a shot by William José that Oblak deflected slightly towards the base of the post. Betis locked Atlético in their area, who barely resisted and secured the three points that allow them not to lose their way in their aspiration to continue in the Champions League.
Atlético reduces its difference with Madrid to eleven points. Next Saturday they travel to Cádiz, but they are only waiting to receive Inter at the Metropolitano the following week, on March 13.
