Betis - Mallorca

[Verdiblanco de Holanda]

Real Betis will be hoping to pick up their first win of the season and move off the foot of the table when they host Mallorca on Sunday.

Cellar Dwellers

Being a Betis fan cannot be easy. If the constant success of cross-town rivals Sevilla isn’t hard enough to bear, their own club seems to spend most of its time trying desperately to survive. This season has been no different, with Real Betis still winless after six games, placing them firmly at the bottom of the table. Even Sporting Gijon have more points.

Betis manager Paco Chaparro is under intense pressure, and given chairman Manuel Ruiz de Lopera’s fondness for firing managers, he might as well start packing if the side doesn’t get anything out of this encounter. He can take a little comfort, however, from the fact that Los Beticos have been competitive in all of their games, having never lost by more than one goal. Things looked to be picking up after twenty minutes of their last match at Villarreal, but Damia’s goal ended up being nothing more than a consolation as they slumped to a 2-1 victory. To make matters worse, the result sent Betis crashing to the bottom of the table.

Mid Table Mediocrity

Betis have Mallorca to thank for their league position, after the islanders achieved the unthinkable and lost to Sporting Gijon, at home no less, thus giving the whipping boys their first points of the season. It was a typical Mallorca result; always dangerous against the big teams, they are just as likely to capitulate against weaker opposition. Betis, therefore, should be quietly confident about achieving a favourable result.

A glance at the Mallorca’s squad reveals an alarming lack of flair. The loss of Ariel Ibagaza and Dani Guiza respectively make them a far less imposing proposition for opposing teams. Juan Arango and Jose Manuel Jurado are exciting players, but the former is coming off the back of a gruelling international schedule, while the latter is still far too inconsistent. While Mallorca have enough experience to beat the drop, they don’t have enough talent to achieve anything of more significance.

FORM GUIDE

Betis

LOST 2-1 (A) Villareal (La Liga, 4th October)

LOST 2-1 (H) Real Madrid (La Liga, 27th September)

LOST 3-2 (A) Barcelona (La Liga, 24th September)

DREW 0-0 (H) Sevilla (La Liga, 21st September)

DREW 0-0 (A) Getafe (La Liga, 14th September)

Mallorca

LOST 2-0 (H) Sporting Gijon (La Liga, 5th October)

WON 2-1 (A) Racing (La Liga, 28th September)

WON 2-0 (H) Numancia (La Liga, 25th September)

DREW 0-0 (A) Deportivo (La Liga, 21st September)

DREW 1-1 (H) Osasuna (La Liga, 14th September)

TEAM NEWS

Betis

The major headache for Paco Chaparro is the news that winger Mark Gonzalez will be out for three months, after twisting knee ligaments on international duty. Their attacking stocks should be boosted, however, by the long awaited return of Brazilian forward Edu from injury, as well as Sergio Garcia from suspension.

Probable Starting XI – Casto – Damia, Nelson, Juanito, Vega – Arzu, Mehmet Aurelio, Capi, Emana – Sergio Garcia, Edu

Mallorca

Mallorca can count on an injury free squad, with the exception of Aritz Aduritz and keeper German Lux. The only other concern is the fitness of Juan Arango, whose flight back to Mallorca was delayed after two hectic World Cup qualifying matches in Venezuela.

Probable Starting XI - Moya – Josemi, Varela, Nunes, Navarro – Jurado, Corrales, Marti, Cleber Santana – Webo, Oscar Trejo

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Betis

Edu was the one and only major source of goals for Real Betis last year, and his return will boost morale considerably. He may not be match-fit yet, but his mere presence on the pitch will spur his team-mates on to another level.

Mallorca

With a paltry two goals, Pierre Webo is Mallorca’s pichichi at this stage of this season. Rather then being an indictment of his own form, however, this is a reflection of the lack of support he has in an attacking sense. With Juan Arango unlikely to play a significant part in the match, he will have to conjure up some magic if Mallorca are to find the back of the net.

[Verdiblanco de Holanda]

Respuesta: Betis - Mallorca

No more excuses tomorrow.This is a MUST win game.
My prediction is Betis - Mallorca 2-0

Vamos Betis

[Pelusa97]

Respuesta: Betis - Mallorca

I hope so.
2-0 Pavone and Sergio Garcia

me too

[Verdiblanco de Holanda]

Respuesta: Betis - Mallorca

BETIS ANXIOUS TO HALT SLUMP

Real Betis coach Francisco Chaparro is aware his side must beat Real Mallorca on Sunday in order to get rid of the tension at the club following three successive defeats.

Betis have yet to win in the Primera Liga so far this season and those three losses have seen the Andalusian side drop to the bottom of the table after six rounds of the championship.

Betis competed well in each of the last three games, against Barcelona, Real Madrid and Villarreal, but lost them all by a single goal.

Chaparro believes his side were unfortunate not to get anything from those matches against last season's top three teams, but says his team must forget about that now and look to secure a maiden win on Sunday.

"I thought we did well in the last three games, but that's gone now and we have to focus on Mallorca," he said.

"We have the obligation to win and put an end to this anxiety."

Despite suffering four defeats this season and picking up just two points in total, Chaparro believes his side's only bad performance came on the opening weekend, when Betis went down 3-1 at home to Recreativo Huelva.

"We have had a difficult calendar to start the season with and our only real bad performance was against Recreativo," he said.

Chaparro expects another tough game against Mallorca, though.

"They are a complicated rival and although they lost their last game at home, they are having a good campaign," he said.

Despite the club's poor start to the season, Chaparro says he is not feeling any pressure at this stage.

"I don't feel any pressure, I'm happy and nobody has said anything to me," he said.

"It's normal that people are angry because of the (lack of) points we have, and we need points to stop nervousness from setting in," he added.

Chaparro welcomes back Brazilian forward Edu, who is yet to make an appearance this season.

However, the 29 year-old is still not fully fit and will start Sunday's match on the bench.

Sergio Garcia returns from suspension and will start in attack, but Achille Emana is doubtful and Mark Gonzalez is definitely out after picking up a knee injury on international duty with Chile last week.

Betis are a point adrift of Sporting Gijon and one more behind Recreativo Huelva, Numancia and Osasuna, who are all struggling early on this season.

Mallorca looked as if they might be involved in a relegation scrap as well following an indifferent first two matches.

Gregorio Manzano's side were thrashed 3-0 by Valencia on the opening weekend and followed up that result with an unconvincing draw at home to Osasuna.

But the islanders then drew two games in a row and secured back-to-back wins to climb into the top half of the table before losing at home to Sporting Gijon before the international break.

Manzano has warned his players Betis are in a false position at the bottom of the table.

"It would be a mistake to pay too much attention to the table because we need to look at Betis as a team who are playing quite well, but just not getting results at the moment," he said.

Mallorca play the bottom club for the second game running - after Betis dropped below Sporting in the table - and Manzano hopes his side can avoid a repeat of the defeat against the promoted club two weeks ago.

"We can't underestimate any rival, no matter where they are in the table," he said.

Juan Arango may start on the bench after returning late from international duty.

Lionel Scaloni is recovering from injury, but is still not ready to return, while Aritz Aduriz remains sidelined.

[Verdiblanco de Holanda]

Respuesta: Betis - Mallorca

Yessssssss 1' [1 - 0] A.P. Damiá

[Verdiblanco de Holanda]

Respuesta: Betis - Mallorca

42' [2 - 0] H.M. Pavone

Yesss the first 3 points and first victory of the season!!
Our season has kicked off

Viva Betis!!!

[Verdiblanco de Holanda]

Respuesta: Betis - Mallorca

Party time 83' [3 - 0] A. Emana

[anarkia78]

Respuesta: Betis - Mallorca

The best team of Spain!!!!...when he wants.

[Verdiblanco de Holanda]

Respuesta: Betis - Mallorca

The best team of Spain!!!!...when he wants.

And the most passionate supporters of Spain!!

[Verdiblanco de Holanda]

Respuesta: Betis - Mallorca

Not bottom anymore!!

1 Valencia 7 6 1 0 17 4 19
2 Villarreal 7 5 2 0 9 3 17
3 Real Madrid 7 5 1 1 20 10 16
4 Sevilla * 6 4 2 0 12 4 14
5 Barcelona * 6 4 1 1 18 7 13
6 Almería * 6 3 2 1 9 7 11
7 Malaga 7 3 1 3 8 9 10
8 Atco. Madrid 7 3 0 4 13 12 9
9 Getafe 7 2 3 2 8 8 9
10 Espanyol 7 2 3 2 6 7 9
11 Deportivo 7 2 3 2 5 6 9
12 Mallorca 7 2 2 3 5 10 8
13 Valladolid 7 2 1 4 6 8 7
14 Racing Santander 7 1 3 3 4 8 6
15 Sporting 7 2 0 5 10 21 6
16 Real Betis 7 1 2 4 7 8 5
17 Ath. Bilbao * 6 1 2 3 4 9 5
18 Recreativo 7 1 2 4 3 12 5
19 Osasuna 7 0 4 3 3 6 4
20 Numancia 7 1 1 5 5 13 4

[Verdiblanco de Holanda]

Respuesta: Betis - Mallorca

.

I failed with the players who scored the goals, because Sergio didn't score goals...

Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeetis!!! Beeeeeeeeeeeeeetis!!!

Don't worry about this.You guess the correct result. Hopefully you can always predict the right results for Betis

[Verdiblanco de Holanda]

Respuesta: Betis - Mallorca

BETIS off the bottom

Real Betis moved off the bottom of the Primera Liga with a fine win at home to Real Mallorca on Sunday.

Three consecutive defeats had seen the Andalusians drop to the bottom of the table and the club were without a win all season before this encounter.

Coach Francisco Chaparro was under pressure and claimed his side were obliged to beat Mallorca.

And they got off to the perfect start as Damia gave the hosts the lead in the very first minute.

Lone striker Mariano Pavone added a second shortly before half-time and Achille Emana struck a third late on to wrap up a much-needed win for Betis.

The Andalusians had felt hard done by in their previous three matches, losing out by a single goal against Barcelona, Real Madrid and Villarreal.

Betis had fallen to late goals in each of those games, but were determined to put things right against Mallorca.

They got off to the best possible start when Damia latched onto a fine pass from Mehmet Aurelio and swept the ball past a hesitant Miguel Angel Moya to give the home fans an early cheer.

And Betis almost went two up just minutes later, but this time Moya got down well to push Emana's shot behind after the Cameroon midfielder was released by Sergio Garcia.

Garcia, returning to the side from suspension, was involved in much of Betis' best play early on.

The former Real Zaragoza forward set up Emana again after 19 minutes, but the African's shot this time lacked power and Moya saved comfortably.

Juanito then missed another good chance for Betis a minute later as the home side continued to dominate proceedings.

Mallorca looked well below their best, but almost got back into the game after 23 minutes, when Fernando Varela's shot deflected off Fernando Vega and almost fooled Betis keeper Casto Espinosa.

But Betis remained on top and came close again on the half-hour mark, when Pavone saw his shot blocked by David Navarro.

The home side got due reward for their sustained pressure just before half-time, when the excellent Emana charged into the area and squared for the unmarked Pavone, who slid the ball home with ease.

The home side were applauded off the pitch at the interval by their long-suffering fans.

And they continued to look the better team after the break.

After Casto had easily saved Navarro's header, Betis almost went three up just minutes after the restart, but Garcia blasted over the bar from close-range.

Moya then denied Betis what seemed a certain third goal with a fine reaction save from Damia, but Mallorca just did not look like scoring.

Alhassane Keita should have pulled one back for the islanders, but failed to make contact with a header from close-range after 76 minutes.

And Betis wrapped up a deserved victory seven minutes from time, when Emana turned in Garcia's intelligent pass to round off a much-needed win for the home side.

[Verdiblanco de Holanda]

Respuesta: Betis - Mallorca

Chaparro not getting carried away with win

Real Betis might have picked up their first win of the season today but manager Paco Chaparro is not getting carried away and wants them to build on this victory.
It's been an awful season so far for Real Betis but Los Verdiblancos finally had something to celebrate today as they beat Mallorca 3-0 to record their first win of the season.

The victory comes as great relief for manager Paco Chaparro but as happy as he is he also is not getting too excited with just the one win.

"The happiness should not be too excessive, I hope that this winning feeling can be carried on and extended to start a good run and get us out of the bottom of the league."

"A goal in the first or second minute of the game helped us," he opined, "But even so in the first 25 minutes Mallorca were on top and created chances and even when we went 2-0 up we were not controlling the match. We played well in general though and earned the victory."

The win not only lifts Betis off the bottom of the table and into 16th but it also helps Chaparro in his supposed ultimatum which has been issued. It has been reported that the club had to pick up 7 points from their next 9 if he is going to have any chance of surviving in his position and this is a perfect start for the experienced coach.

Speaking after the match he emphasised though that everything is not perfect yet but he was pleased with the overall team performance.

"The logical thing is to repeat this game, but a team cannot be built in a month so we have to keep on working hard to win. If we play the same way we have today in our next games we will win."

"When there is a good squad with even those who aren't playing doing well it is good for the team and good work can be done," he concluded.