With greater or lesser difficulties, and despite having to deal with a plague of injuries that seems to have no end, as well as the structural changes that Betis undertakes every year in its template for economic reasons, Pellegrini always manages to find a way out. His method fits perfectly at the Verdiblanco club, and for the fifth consecutive season, he reaches the decisive moment in the fight for his continental goal.
The team’s assault on the sixth place in the classification was secured with a prestigious victory, the only one that had resisted Pellegrini since he took charge of the Verdiblanco team. With a comeback included, Betis knocked down Real Madrid at Benito Villamarín to add three points of immense value. Given the context, the rival, the moment of the course, and the calendar that they will face in the coming weeks, Betis took a giant step towards Europe yesterday.
And they did it true to their style. Although they suffered from the start against an opponent who dominated the ball and showed their potential until they managed to take the lead on the scoreboard, the Heliopolitans recovered command, with Cardoso and Altimira performing at a superlative level. They stirred up the opponent’s defense with their two stabs down the flanks, courtesy of Jesus and Antony; they searched for Cucho, who was unstoppable and capable of combining quality and struggle; and, above all, they were guided by the orchestra director, Isco Alarcón, a footballer made of a different mold.
## Isco, again at the selection level
The Malaga native, facing his former team, proved to be at his highest level. It’s hard to imagine that his name won’t reappear in the next Spanish team call-up. The Betic midfielder attended to the tying goal from the corner, launched the penalty that Jesus transformed to complete the comeback, and left countless technical details, controls, dribbles, and passes that left Real Madrid bewildered.
This was the first time Pellegrini managed to defeat the white team since he became coach of Betis. It was the only LaLiga team that had resisted him, after having beaten Atlético de Madrid last October. And the way he put an end to his series of five draws and four losses against his former team was the best possible, dominating, creating chances (18 shots!), confirming the defensive improvement with Bartra and Llorente performing imperially, and making it clear that, despite the traps along the way, the criticisms he receives, and the doubts generated by his method, Pellegrini always finds a way out. There’s no better technician for this Betis.