A lone Giovani Lo Celso goal in the 16th minute was enough to help Real Betis seal a 1-0 victory against Deportivo Alaves on matchday 2.
The game began brightly with both sides having a go at each other. Alaves went close to scoring in the second minute when Betis keeper Pau Lopez kept out a shot from Jon Guridi. Betis would respond a few minutes later through Pablo Fornals. Aitor Ruibal would miss two successive chances to put his side ahead before winning a free kick in the 14th minute.
Betis would score a minute later as Lo Celso opened his account for the season with a calmly taken goal. Following the goal, both sides carved out chances through Facundo Garces (Alaves), Rodrigo Riquelme (Real Betis), and Junior Firpo (Real Betis), but none was able to capitalise and get a goal before halftime.
The second half began with both teams looking to seize control of the midfield. Real Betis, eager to protect their one-goal lead, focused on compact defending and quick transitions. Alaves, on the other hand, pushed forward in search of an equaliser.
The visitors created the first real chance of the half in the 55th minute when Jonny’s header from a Carles Aleñá cross narrowly missed the target. Betis responded with their own opportunities, with Héctor Bellerín and Giovani Lo Celso both forcing saves from Alaves goalkeeper Antonio Sivera.
As the half wore on, Alaves made a flurry of substitutions in an attempt to inject fresh energy into their attack, bringing on Mariano Díaz, Ander Guevara, and Abde Rebbach. Betis countered with their own changes, introducing Ricardo Rodríguez and Pablo García to shore up the defense and add some attacking threat.
Despite the substitutions, the game became a tense, cagey affair. Alaves pressed high, winning a series of free kicks and corners, but the Betis backline held firm. Goalkeeper Pau López was forced into a crucial save from a Facundo Garcés header in the 74th minute, preserving his clean sheet.
Alaves had one last chance to salvage a point when Calebe won a free kick in a dangerous position, but it came to nothing. Moments later, Betis had a golden opportunity to double their lead when a long-range shot from substitute Cédric Bakambu hit the crossbar.
In the end, Real Betis’s defending was enough to see out the 1-0 victory. The win temporarily puts Betis at the top of the table, while Alaves, with three points from their opening game, are in ninth position.
