Real Betis - Athletic Club

Athletic Club will go into the international break with a huge smile on their faces. Three wins from three games and nine morale-boosting points before we host Deportivo Alavés and then Arsenal in the Champions League. 

This evening's 1-2 win against Real Betis was indisputable. La Cartuja has gone from being a bogey ground to a dream venue. After the 2024 Copa triumph we have another victory to savour.

Ernesto Valverde's men produced a tremendous display built on defensive solidity.

The Lions grew as the game went on, eventually sinking Betis with two second-half blows: an own goal by Marc Bartra, a deflection off a powerful Yuri cross, and a Aitor Paredes header set up by Robert Navarro. 

The latter came in the 84th minute and it looked like the game was over. However, there was still time for Cedric Bakambu to pull one back and for the referee to send off Valverde and substitute goalkeeper Alex Padilla.

Athletic were the better side throughout the sweltering hot evening. Iñaki Williams had two massive chances to put the Zurigorri ahead in the first half, one of which came from a superb pass from Alex Berenguer - at the same end where he made history.

Betis threatened with a shot from Giovanni Lo Celso and a Pablo García effort that took a deflection off Jesus Areso and hit the crossbar.

Athletic's first strike, which started on one wing and ended on the other, delivered a brutal blow to Manuel Pellegrini's side, silencing the 65,000 boisterous spectators in Seville.

Maroan almost made it 0-2, but Álvaro Valles denied him. There was nothing the Betis shotstopper could do to thwart Paredes. 

The dramatic finale was a learning experience. Full steam ahead.