Betis secured a 3-0 victory over Valencia, delivering a performance that combined confident ball movement with vertical, precise football aimed at ending a four-match run without triumphs. The streak included three league defeats and a European setback, making the result feel like a decisive response. Valencia, hampered by personnel losses and a lack of defensive solidity, showed limited progress or reliability. The atmosphere at Benito Villamarín underscored Betis’ intent to push for consistency.
The green and white side celebrated a commanding win thanks to goals from the young Assane Diao, who impressed with his pace, drive, and finishing touch in both midfield and attack. Diao found the net in the 41st minute and again after the break, with Marc Roca scoring in the 52nd minute and Ez Abde sealing the result in the 85th minute for the Moroccans. The young forward’s influence was clear as Betis asserted control through sustained pressure and quality finishing.
Valencia faced a difficult night marked by injury woes and tactical reshuffles. The Chilean manager, Ruben Baraja, had to adapt after four full-backs were sidelined, moving two centre-backs to the wings and relying on Cristhian Camara and Cenk Özkaçar to fill defensive gaps. Manuel Pellegrini continued his rotation policy, making as many as five changes to sharpen the team and break the four-match run that had included losses in Europe and the league, plus two stalemates in domestic play.
Valencia endured significant setbacks due to a string of injuries to key players (Jesús Vázquez, Sergi Canós, Alberto Marí, Gayà, Foulquier, Rendall, and Amallah). Their recent form had dipped further after a home defeat to Real Sociedad, leaving them with just one win and four points from the last five fixtures. The match began with both sides attempting to impose rhythm and danger in the opposing penalty areas, though the early exchanges were tightly contested and lacked clear-cut chances, aside from a speculative header from Betis that tested Mamardashvili.
Ayoze Pérez came close early on, and Mamardashvili had to react decisively to a sharp drive from Rodri Sánchez shortly after. Betis pushed to exploit the flanks, with Assane Diao thriving on the right and Rodri probing Valencia’s defense, yet Valencia managed to blunt most attempts as their structure held firm in the initial stages. Isco’s influence briefly sparked hope for Betis, but the visitors’ compact defense and disciplined midfield limited the attacking threat.
Visuals from the game highlighted the 18-year-old Diao as a catalyst for Betis, a rising talent who demonstrated a clear tempo and determination in the early exchanges. The goal sequence in the 41st minute materialized from a corner that Valenica failed to clear effectively, and Diao took advantage of a loose ball to steer it home after Marc Roca delivered a precise touch from the set piece. Betis took a 2-0 lead after a second half corner was met by a powerful header from Roca, widening the hosts’ advantage and intensifying their grip on the contest.
Valencia’s attempts to respond in the second half were frustrated by Betis’ superior organization and pressing. The visitors saw sporadic advancements, but their efforts often lacked the necessary pace and precision to penetrate Betis’ backline. The pattern of the match favored Betis as the home side maintained control of the tempo and created more meaningful opportunities in transition plays. The tactical reshuffles by Pellegrini paid off as Betis grew more fluid and dangerous, especially in the latter stages when quick counterattacks created chances that Valencia failed to convert.
The night’s standout moment arrived when Ez Abde, replacing the injured Assane Diao late in the game, finished with authority from the edge of the area to cap a convincing 3-0 victory for Betis. The finish, driven with accuracy by Betis’ attacker, sealed the result and underscored the home side’s dominance in the closing moments as Valencia struggled to mount a meaningful response. The match left Betis buoyant and Valencia seeking a new approach after a sequence of injuries and inconsistent results.
Overall, Betis demonstrated a blend of dynamic attacking play and organized defense, executing a game plan that exploited Valencia’s vulnerabilities. The win reinforced Betis’ ambition to climb the table and solidify their form in both domestic and European competitions, while Valencia must regroup quickly to recover their structure and confidence in upcoming fixtures. [citation]