Oddly, since having played us in the Summer Real Betis have had a very poor run of form just like our own which has culminated in the week from hell for them. On Sunday last week, an 18-year-old who had never previously started a game scored against Real Betis after just 13 seconds, setting up a 5-0 defeat. On Monday the club's manager, Pepe Mel, felt the need to hold a press conference to insist he wasn't going to abandon ship. On Tuesday, the ultras turned up at the training ground to abuse the players, soon heading to the manager's office for an impromptu private meeting. On Wednesday, he held another press conference claiming he had no choice but to invite them in, and the team slipped into the relegation zone. On Thursday, they missed a penalty. Twice. On Friday, the club published an official communique blaming the training ground incident on Mel. On Saturday, their most expensive summer signing went into hospital with appendicitis. And on Sunday, their centre-back broke his jaw and then, in the 94th minute, very late on Sunday, the ball hit the goalkeeper, hit the bar and then hit the net. Twice they had come back from a goal down; now they had been defeated again, 3-2. In the penalty area, Betis players sunk to their knees in disbelief. Over on the touchline, their manager threw down his bottle of water in anger. "It's mad that we didn't win this," he said later. It certainly hadn't been Betis's week. Of course, as the Señora and I are Sevillista's, we couldn't give a toss about their bad luck but I did think it worth pointing out the similarities to what has happened to us in some matches, and also the managers reactions are strikingly similar, too.
So, Pepe Mel a nailed on cert after the International break? Looks as well as reacts the same. please log in to view this image
Well, it doesn't get any easier for them. Their match next week is home to Barcelona and then straight after the International break they are away to, of all teams, Sevilla. If they don't win that one, rather than the Barca one, then I am sure he will be sacked - probably because the Betico's will have set fire to their Stadium by that time if he hasn't.
Just to keep with the story... Real Betis lost 4-1 to Barcelona! They are currently bottom with 9 points.
You bet they did. There was much rejoicing in Casa Fulhaman this weekend. Especially from the Señora, who insists that all Betico's are "gilipollas" (closest English approximation is twats).
Not a happy person, Pepe Mel please log in to view this image “Apart from them getting the first goal early on we didn’t start off too badly. They made it difficult for us and we knew we would be inferior at dead-ball situations because they have players who are strong and tall.” Pepe Mel believed Paulao’s dismissal just before half-time was the turning point in his side’s 4-0 reverse at Sevilla. The Real Betis boss saw the Brazilian defender receive his marching orders for a second bookable offence on 42 minutes and he told a Press conference it was a decision that “killed us”. In a game that was often marred by scuffles between opposing players and off-the-ball incidents, Mel assessed the performance of referee Estrada Fernandez. “I had doubts about there being an offside before the third goal, but apparently not,” he added. “When it came to showing cards they all seemed to be towards us. Every Sevilla tackle went unpunished while ours didn’t. To talk about the officials is usually an excuse and we didn’t lose because of him. The same thing happened to us last year,” he lamented.
I have been in the Estadio Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán for one of these matches and to say the atmosphere is poisonous is an understatement. Makes Man Utd V Liverpool seem like the Summer of Love. There is quite often a full scale brawl on the pitch. The ground is right by a fairly new all glass shopping mall which has been built directly in front of the stadium. In this picture of the ground where the mall is now there is just waste ground and what looks like a car park. A bit of a shame because it means you can't easily see that mural now, which is brilliant, by the way, without walking off the main street and through the two wings of the mall. A lot of hardboard and nails get sold on the run up to Derby Day.
And such delightful people, the Betis fans. Looks like the Señora was right. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/25104404
It's not all doom and gloom: "Real Betis saw Lyon leapfrog them to the top of Group I with a 1-0 win at Stade Gerland on Thursday, but both teams were able to celebrate a place in the last 32 of the Europa League. Substitute Bafetimbi Gomis finished off a good move to net the only goal of the game in the 66th minute as Lyon inflicted a first group defeat on Betis to move into first place. However, third-placed Vitoria Guimaraes are now unable to pip Betis to second spot after being held to a goalless draw at Rijeka. That was the good news for Betis, but it may not do much to ease the pressure on coach Pepe Mel." Source: http://espnfc.com/uk/en/report/380937/report.html?soccernet=true&cc=5739
Decent result for our other favourite team. RB drew with R Villecano 2-2 and only a late goal thwarted them from victory. please log in to view this image Pepe Mel believes that his Real Betis side were ‘better’ than Rayo Vallecano despite their 2-2 draw on Sunday. Alberto Bueno netted a late equaliser for the Franjirrojos to ensure that both teams came away from Benito Villamarin with a share of the points. “We were better than our opponents,” he told a Press conference. “I’m satisfied with how we played for the majority of the match. But we just have to keep on working and try to take the positives out of the match." “We did everything to win today, but we just didn’t get any luck." Source: http://www.football-espana.net/38409/mel-we-were-better
Unsurprisingly, Betis, who are bottom of La Liga, with 10 points (still uncannily like us who are 1 place and 1 win better off) sacked their manager Pepe Mel at the beginning of the month - just 1 day after we sacked Jol, again, weird, huh? However, things may be better for Mel than for Jol as Pepe is a leading contender to get the West Brom job. Could be interesting as Mel is a bit of a madman.
Whooosh.... "Struggling Spanish outfit Real Betis are showing interest in a six-month loan deal for Fulham's Costa Rican forward Bryan Ruiz. According to Marca, Betis boss Juan Carlos Garrido has personally called Ruiz in an attempt to secure his services for the remainder of the season." Source: http://www.clubcall.com/fulham/fulham-forward-wanted-by-spanish-strugglers-1692014.html
