Real Betis grind past 10-man Getafe 1-0 to move up to third

Real Betis needed only one goal to beat Getafe 1-0 at the Benito Villamarín on Thursday night, and spent most of the match making sure it would be enough. Abde Ezzalzouli struck right on the stroke of half-time, and Getafe never really threatened an equaliser — finishing the game with 10 men after Mario Martín's second yellow card three minutes from time.

A goal born of pressure that had been building all half

Betis had already forced David Soria into four saves — Antony twice, Isco and Troy Parrott once each — before the breakthrough came. In first-half stoppage time, Parrott picked out Ezzalzouli with a pass in behind following a fast break, and the winger finished low into the bottom-left corner for his first goal of the campaign. The goal stood after a VAR check, and Betis went in a goal to the good at the break having barely troubled Soria's opposite number, Álvaro Valles, in return.

Getafe's discipline unravels

José Bordalás's side never found a way to threaten an equaliser, and their afternoon got progressively more fraught. Davinchi was booked in the 25th minute, Mario Martín followed in the 53rd, Nemanja Gudelj in the 70th and Sebastián Boselli in the 74th, before Martín picked up a second caution in the 87th minute for a foul on Natan and was sent off, leaving Getafe to play the closing minutes a man light while still chasing the game.

"It is evident that we are not treated the same way."

— José Bordalás, Getafe head coach

Match stats

Line-ups

Real Betis set up in a 4-2-3-1: Álvaro Valles in goal behind a back four of Ángel Ortiz, Valentín Gómez, Natan and Junior Firpo, captain Isco screening alongside Facundo Bernal, Nelson Deossa and Antony either side of Ezzalzouli, and Parrott leading the line. Getafe lined up in a 4-1-4-1, with David Soria in goal behind captain Djené Dakonam, Davinchi, Andrés García and Zaid Romero, Martín Satriano sitting in front of the back line, Nemanja Gudelj, Mario Martín, Francho Serrano and Orel Mangala across midfield, and Iván Azón isolated up front.

Four straight wins for Pellegrini's side

This was Betis's fourth straight win in all competitions, following victories over Real Madrid, a 3-2 away win at Lille in the Champions League, and last week's 2-1 comeback at Villarreal — a run that began right after a 5-2 defeat at Levante, their only loss in the last six games across all competitions.

"Getafe are a tough side; they defend resolutely and are very physical. The team performed very well defensively — they barely threatened our goal. If you can't score more than once, you have to know how to keep a clean sheet, but always looking for that second goal."

— Manuel Pellegrini, Real Betis head coach

Where it leaves the table

The win takes Betis to 15 points from six matches, third in LaLiga — level on points with second-placed Real Madrid but behind them on goal difference, and three points off leaders Barcelona — comfortably inside this season's five-team Champions League zone. Getafe stay 15th on 4 points from five league games, just a single point above the relegation zone, and will now have to plan their next league fixture without Martín, suspended after his sending-off.