Real Betis-Racing Santander

[Verdiblanco de Holanda]

Real Betis are expected to turn the corner with each new season and before the current campaign, many were predicting that the club could at last push for a top-ten finish rather than spend another year struggling to stay up.

Since qualifying for the Champions League on the last day of the 2004-05 campagin, pipping their city rivals Sevilla, the Verdiblancos' fortunes have plummeted, and they have not come close to repeatig that glorious achievement.

While Sevilla have gone on to silverware and regular European football, Betis have been left to worry about remaining in the top flight and to consider how and where it all went wrong.

Many have speculated, and some have pointed fingers at people to explain the downfall - and maybe, although the locals are saying it quietly, things are slowly moving in the right direction at last.

Three wins and two draws should make enouraging reading this season, but instead it is the five defeats in the opening ten games that have caused the problems as the club have had to come back from a poor start.

Coach Paco Chaparro is an experienced campaigner and he is under no illusions as to the task facing him and the players, but he is not one to panic, and believes that the long-awaited corner-turning can start this weekend.

But in recent weeks things have begun to look up as five wins in their last matches, including victory in both legs of the Copa del Rey against Castellón, have lifted spirits again.

Rosy Outlook

Defeat by Deportivo at home was one game that reminded Betis that there is still a lot of improvement to be made, but wins at Osasuna and Numancia have shown that they do have what it takes to compete.

After losing at home on the opening day against Recreativo, Betis then faced four extremely tough matches as they held Sevilla at home before being beaten by Barcelona, Real Madrid and Villarreal.

Discounting the games against four clubs all expected to push for the title, things are not going too badly, and another win this weekend could well see the whole situation suddenly look a lot rosier.

Racing had the opposite happen to them last term as expectations of a struggle turned into an incredible year that culminated in qualification for the UEFA Cup.

That came at a price as coach Marcelino took his chance supposedly to step up a level in terms of club, but actually took a step down as he chose to take over at second-tier Real Zaragoza.

A difficult campaign was once again thought to be on the cards with Europe a distraction, but that has not been the case and Juan Ramón López Muñiz has kept everyone's heads held high.

A top-ten finish may have been seen as a one-off, but the Cantabrian outfit are actually in tenth place going into this game, though with only one more point than their opponents.



FORM GUIDE

Real Betis

12/11 H 2-0 Castellón
09/11 A 4-2 Numancia
02/11 H 0-3 Deportivo
29/10 A 2-0 Castellón
25/10 A 2-0 Osasuna
19/10 H 3-0 Real Mallorca

Racing Santander

12/11 H 1-0 Benidorm
08/11 H 6-0 Real Valladolid
04/11 H 1-1 Basel
01/11 A 4-1 Málaga
28/10 A 1-0 Benidorm
25/10 H 5-0 Almeria



TEAM NEWS

Real Betis

TBA

Squad: Casto, Ricardo, Juanito, Sergio García, Capi, Rivera, Nelson, Melli, Juanma, Damiá, Monzón, Emana, José Mari, Fernando Vega, Arzu, Pavone, Mehmet Aurelio, Juande.

Racing Santander

TBA

Squad: Toño, Coltorti, Pinillos, César Navas, Marcano, Oriol, Moratón, Mehdi Lacen, Colsa, Sepsi, Edu Bedia, Serrano, Juan Valera, Canales, Jonathan Pereira, Munitis, Tchité, Juanjo.

[Verdiblanco de Holanda]

Respuesta: Real Betis-Racing Santander

My prediction for this game is:

Betis-Racing 2-0

[Verdiblanco de Holanda]

Respuesta: Real Betis-Racing Santander

Racing Santander coach Juan Ramon Lopez Muniz has warned his side not to be misled by the lowly league position currently occupied by Sunday's opponents Real Betis, insisting the Sevillian club have a squad that demands respect.

Racing travel south to the Manuel Ruiz de Lopera looking a rejuvenated side having won three and drawn one of their past four league and cup games - after previously losing six out of nine.

That improved form has helped lift Racing up to 10th in the Primera Liga standings, and earned them a spot in the last 16 of the Copa del Rey.

Racing will this weekend come up against a Betis side who are in even better form though, even if they are still five places below the Cantabrian side in the table.

Big-spending Betis have won five of their past six competitive games to help banish the memory of their nightmare run of 11 matches without a single success - leaving them bottom of the table - and Lopez Muniz is making sure his players know not to underestimate Paco Chaparro's side.

"Betis have players of great quality. They have a team who has to be much higher in the table at the end of the season," he said.

"They are a club who have spent a lot of money to try and get into European competition. They have had a difficult start, and they are now on the same line as us, which is more or less trying to get to a more comfortable position, after which you can start looking at other objectives."

Betis, who also advanced to the last 16 of the Copa del Rey following a 2-0 win over Second Division Castellon on Wednesday, are still only four points clear of the relegation zone though, and Chaparro wants to see more daylight between themselves and the bottom three.

"This game is a good opportunity. We are eager to climb up the table as soon as possible," he said.

Betis have been struggling for fit and available forwards recently, and the likes of Xisco, David Odonkor and Mark Gonzalez remain sidelined with injury, while last season's leading scorer Edu may have played his last game for the club.

Betis have offered to release the Brazilian from his contract after he hit out at the Seville-based club over his treatment following an injury.

Knowing his side's attacking options have been depleted, Chaparro's feels it is imperative that the whole team try to contribute to the scoresheet.

"We want other players to weigh in with goals, for the team to have five or six players who will score eight goals for the season," said Chaparro, who at least welcomes back Spain striker Sergio Garcia this weekend following suspension.

Aside from Garcia, Chaparro also welcomes back Juanito and Mehmet Aurelio after resting them for the cup match.

Racing boss Lopez Muniz has named an 18-man travelling squad for the trip south, including in-form striker Mohammed Tchite whose goal in Racing's 2-0 Copa del Rey triumph over Real Murcia in midweek took his tally to seven in his last six games.

Luis Fernandez and Peter Luccin are both missing through injury though, while Damian Ismodes is also absent after being called up for the Peru Under-21 squad and Ze Antonio, Christian and Jorge Miguel Goncalves have been omitted.

[Gemelo]

Respuesta: Real Betis-Racing Santander

I say

Real Betis 2 - 1 Racing

[beticonoruego]

Respuesta: Real Betis-Racing Santander

Real Betis are expected to turn the corner with each new season and before the current campaign, many were predicting that the club could at last push for a top-ten finish rather than spend another year struggling to stay up.

Since qualifying for the Champions League on the last day of the 2004-05 campagin, pipping their city rivals Sevilla, the Verdiblancos' fortunes have plummeted, and they have not come close to repeatig that glorious achievement.

While Sevilla have gone on to silverware and regular European football, Betis have been left to worry about remaining in the top flight and to consider how and where it all went wrong.

Many have speculated, and some have pointed fingers at people to explain the downfall - and maybe, although the locals are saying it quietly, things are slowly moving in the right direction at last.

Three wins and two draws should make enouraging reading this season, but instead it is the five defeats in the opening ten games that have caused the problems as the club have had to come back from a poor start.

Coach Paco Chaparro is an experienced campaigner and he is under no illusions as to the task facing him and the players, but he is not one to panic, and believes that the long-awaited corner-turning can start this weekend.

But in recent weeks things have begun to look up as five wins in their last matches, including victory in both legs of the Copa del Rey against Castellón, have lifted spirits again.

Rosy Outlook

Defeat by Deportivo at home was one game that reminded Betis that there is still a lot of improvement to be made, but wins at Osasuna and Numancia have shown that they do have what it takes to compete.

After losing at home on the opening day against Recreativo, Betis then faced four extremely tough matches as they held Sevilla at home before being beaten by Barcelona, Real Madrid and Villarreal.

Discounting the games against four clubs all expected to push for the title, things are not going too badly, and another win this weekend could well see the whole situation suddenly look a lot rosier.

Racing had the opposite happen to them last term as expectations of a struggle turned into an incredible year that culminated in qualification for the UEFA Cup.

That came at a price as coach Marcelino took his chance supposedly to step up a level in terms of club, but actually took a step down as he chose to take over at second-tier Real Zaragoza.

A difficult campaign was once again thought to be on the cards with Europe a distraction, but that has not been the case and Juan Ramón López Muñiz has kept everyone's heads held high.

A top-ten finish may have been seen as a one-off, but the Cantabrian outfit are actually in tenth place going into this game, though with only one more point than their opponents.



FORM GUIDE

Real Betis

12/11 H 2-0 Castellón
09/11 A 4-2 Numancia
02/11 H 0-3 Deportivo
29/10 A 2-0 Castellón
25/10 A 2-0 Osasuna
19/10 H 3-0 Real Mallorca

Racing Santander

12/11 H 1-0 Benidorm
08/11 H 6-0 Real Valladolid
04/11 H 1-1 Basel
01/11 A 4-1 Málaga
28/10 A 1-0 Benidorm
25/10 H 5-0 Almeria



TEAM NEWS

Real Betis

TBA

Squad: Casto, Ricardo, Juanito, Sergio García, Capi, Rivera, Nelson, Melli, Juanma, Damiá, Monzón, Emana, José Mari, Fernando Vega, Arzu, Pavone, Mehmet Aurelio, Juande.

Racing Santander

TBA

Squad: Toño, Coltorti, Pinillos, César Navas, Marcano, Oriol, Moratón, Mehdi Lacen, Colsa, Sepsi, Edu Bedia, Serrano, Juan Valera, Canales, Jonathan Pereira, Munitis, Tchité, Juanjo.

Are you sure that the Racing Santander's form guide is right?

Focusing at the match I think it will be difficult, Racing is in a good shape. But not winning against Racing would be a disapointment since we play at home.

[betico_salou]

Respuesta: Real Betis-Racing Santander

I guess these last results are about Futbol Club Barcelona

[Verdiblanco de Holanda]

Respuesta: Real Betis-Racing Santander

I guess these last results are about Futbol Club Barcelona

Oeps mistake

[Verdiblanco de Holanda]

Respuesta: Real Betis-Racing Santander

Yes 1-0 Betis 27' [1 - 0] S. Garcia

[Verdiblanco de Holanda]

Respuesta: Real Betis-Racing Santander

Half time 2-0 37' [2 - 0] A. Emana

[Verdiblanco de Holanda]

Respuesta: Real Betis-Racing Santander

71' [3 - 0] S. Garcia

[Verdiblanco de Holanda]

Respuesta: Real Betis-Racing Santander

Excellent result again !! 3-1
With this ratio we can go for an UEFA Cup place !!

BETIS BETIS !!!!

[Verdiblanco de Holanda]

Respuesta: Real Betis-Racing Santander

Garcia stars in Betis victory.

Sergio Garcia starred as Real Betis moved into the top half of the Primera Liga for the first time this season with a convincing 3-1 win at home to Racing Santander at the Ruiz De Lopera.

The summer signing from Real Zaragoza struck twice and set up Cameroon midfielder Achille Emana for the other as the Andalusians bagged a fourth win in five Primera Liga matches to put their early-season troubles well and truly behind them and move up to 10th in the table.

Pedro Munitis' deflected late strike proved nothing but a consolation for Racing, who never looked like taking anything from the game.

Both of these sides began the season poorly.

Betis were winless after five rounds and sat at the bottom of the table following three consecutive defeats.

That woeful run of form left coach Paco Chaparro under pressure, but their recent run has seen the mood in Seville improve.

Racing were also winless after five games and their coach, Juan Ramon Lopez Muniz, also appeared in danger of losing his job.

But a stunning 4-2 victory at Valencia gave him some breathing space and Racing moved into the top half after last weekend's 1-0 win at home to Sporting Gijon.

The two sides therefore came into this match in a similar situation and they were also hard to distinguish on the pitch.

Both were kitted out in green and white shirts, with Betis in white shorts and Racing wearing black ones.

The home side began brightly and Mehmet Aurelio fired just over the bar from the edge of the box after seven minutes.

Seven minutes later, Emana put Damia through, but the Catalan midfielder fired against the post when he really should have given the home side the lead.

At the other end, Ivan Marcano headed just wide after 16 minutes as Racing threatened for the first time.

But Betis continued to dominate and Sergio Garcia gave Chaparro's side the lead after 27 minutes.

Damia lost possession on the edge of the box, but the loose ball fell to the Spain forward, who lashed a stunning left-footed shot past Tono to put the Andalusians in front.

Sergio Garcia was instrumental again as Betis went two up eight minutes before half-time.

This time he waltzed past two defenders and set up - via a botched Racing clearance - Emana, who poked home from close-range to give Betis a comfortable cushion at the break.

Betis continued to dominate after the interval and finally sealed the points with 19 minutes remaining, when Sergio Garcia raced onto a shocking back-pass by Laszlo Sepsi and rounded Tono to make it 3-0.

Munitis' deflected strike four minutes from time salvaged some pride for Racing, but it was too little, too late for the visitors, who were soundly beaten in the end.

[Merino II]

Respuesta: Real Betis-Racing Santander

Great match and Great result!

For my the best new of the match has been that finally Chaparro has found the eleven to play.

Sergio Garcia is better playing as striker than on the right wing. We could be the player that shone in Zaragoza and made him went and played with spain selection team.

Emana is also better playing closer to area than middlefield.

[betico_salou]

Respuesta: Real Betis-Racing Santander

Musho Betis!
Too mush Betis!