Real Betis Showcase Dominance in Second Half to Thrash Nine-Man Real Sociedad

Real Betis secured a much-needed victory, breaking a four-match winless and goalless streak with a commanding 3-0 win over a nine-man Real Sociedad at the Estadio Benito Villamarin.

Entering the fixture positioned mid-table in LaLiga, Betis found themselves just six points shy of the top five, yet only seven points clear of the relegation zone.

The first 20 minutes offered little in terms of clear chances, characterised by high intensity, but the dynamics shifted dramatically when Igor Zubeldia received a red card for dragging down Jesus Rodriguez as the last defender.

With the advantage of an extra player, Betis seized the opportunity, and a golden chance arose around the hour mark when a penalty was awarded after Antony was fouled by Aihen Munoz.

Giovanni Lo Celso stepped up to take the penalty, but his effort from 12 yards was thwarted by Alex Remiro, marking his first missed penalty in six years.

Betis continued to apply pressure, with the lively Rodriguez striking the woodwork after Remiro parried a shot from Isco. However, Luka Sucic’s powerful shot from outside the area ricocheted off the crossbar, reminding everyone that Sociedad still posed a threat.

Yet, Betis cranked up the pressure after the interval, and by the time the mid-point of the second half arrived, they had doubled their lead.

Antony, rejuvenated since joining on loan from Manchester United, opened the scoring with a superb strike, registering his third goal in four matches.

The second came from a somewhat fortunate sequence, with Rodriguez’s shot following some brilliant wing play deflecting into the path of Marc Roca, who smashed it home from close range.

Roca, typically not known for his scoring, having netted only five goals in 142 LaLiga appearances, soon made it two, finding the bottom corner with a precise shot from the edge of the area.

Things spiralled further downhill for Sociedad when they were ultimately reduced to nine players after Sheraldo Becker’s reckless late challenge on Angel Ortiz.

In the dying minutes, Betis easily controlled possession, with Sociedad seemingly resigned to limiting their losses.

Overall, it was a fantastic outing for the Verdiblancos, marking a successful end to a tough five-match stretch at home.

Meanwhile, Sociedad have now registered just one win in their last five LaLiga encounters and may need to shift focus towards the Copa Del Rey and UEFA Europa League as they aim to regain their momentum.