Real Betis erased the memory of their midweek 5-0 thrashing by Atlético Madrid, returning to the Riyadh Air Metropolitano to claim a gritty 1-0 La Liga victory. Manuel Pellegrini made significant tactical adjustments, emphasizing a deep defensive block that frustrated Diego Simeone’s men throughout the contest.
The decisive moment arrived in the 28th minute. The Brazilian winger Antony, who has been in fine form, cut inside from the right wing and bypassed Mateo Ruggeri with ease. He unleashed a signature curling 20-yard effort that caught Jan Oblak off-guard, nestling into the near post. It was Antony’s 10th goal of the campaign and a moment of pure individual brilliance.
Atlético Madrid struggled to find the fluidity that had seen them dominate the same opponent in the Copa del Rey just days earlier. While they maintained 65% possession, clear-cut chances were rare. Alexander Sørloth and Antoine Griezmann were both denied by an inspired Álvaro Valles, who remained largely untroubled despite the hosts' pressure. The Metropolitano thought they had snatched an equalizer in the 74th minute when a Diego Llorente header ended in the back of the net, but a lengthy VAR review ruled the goal out for a marginal offside against Griezmann.
What It Means: Real Betis move into the top five, closing the gap on the Champions League spots and avenging their recent cup heartbreak. For Atlético, the defeat is a significant blow to their title aspirations, leaving them 13 points behind leaders Barcelona.