Atletico beat Betis 2-0: Antony locked, Simeone reached 20
Giuliano Simeone opened the scoring in the 3rd minute, Baena finished late in the first half to give Atletico a 2-0 win at La Cartuja. Antony was neutralized, Diego Simeone reached the 20-win mark against Betis.
Atletico Madrid won 2-0 against Real Betis at La Cartuja in the late La Liga match, a night that showed the full Simeone identity: disciplined, cool-headed and knowing how to strike at the right time. Antony – the explosive right-hand man for Betis – was completely blocked, while Diego Simeone reached 20 victories against the opponent, equaling Miguel Munoz's record.
Decisive moment: early goal and halftime strike
A dream start came to the visitors. In the 3rd minute, Giuliano Simeone – son of coach Diego Simeone – fired a decisive shot from outside the box to open the score. The early goal allowed Atletico to get the game back on track: a tight defense, suffocating space and ready to punish any mistakes.
While Betis were still struggling to find a way into Jan Oblak's goal, Atletico fired their second shot right at the end of the first half. From a messy situation in the penalty area, Baena handled it neatly and finished accurately, raising the score to 2-0. The two-goal gap was enough for Atletico to control the risks after the break.
Main events and milestones
| Minute | Player | Situation |
|---|---|---|
| 3' | Giuliano Simeone | Shot outside the box to open the score 1-0 |
| End of first half | Baena | Seize the opportunity in the messy play, raise the score to 2-0 |
Simeone locked down the right wing, Antony was silent
Atletico’s tactical focus was on blocking the right flank – an area where Antony often operated. The pressing and space-blocking tactics were coordinated, forcing Betis to push the ball out wide or back, cutting off the Brazilian’s signature penetration.
Antony was isolated, lacking space for one-on-one duels and rarely allowed to turn towards goal. Whenever Betis tried to shift their attacking structure to the right, Atletico closed the distance, blocking the passing lanes, making penetrating combinations almost impossible.
Controversy and match discipline
Betis reacted furiously, claiming that Antony had been fouled on the free kick before the counter-attack that led to the goal. However, the referee did not call a penalty. Atletico kept their cool, taking full advantage of their opponents' lapse in concentration to strike the decisive blow.
Important statistics
- Score: Real Betis 0-2 Atletico Madrid (La Cartuja, Sevilla).
- Goal: 3' Giuliano Simeone; end of first half Baena.
- Atletico got their first three points away from home this season.
- Betis were held to a 0-0 draw by Genk in the Europa League, ending a 32-match scoring streak, and continued to be unable to break through against Atletico.
- Diego Simeone achieved 20 victories against Real Betis – a feat that in Spanish football history only Miguel Munoz had previously achieved.
Meaning to the race and Atletico identity
Three points at La Cartuja improved Atletico’s position in the table and, more importantly, confirmed that their identity had not faded. Without dominating possession, the red and white striped team were cool enough to decide the game with two high-quality moments.
For Betis, the problem is their ability to transition into attack when the right-wing striker is blocked. After their long scoring streak in Europe ended, Manuel Pellegrini’s side need to quickly rekindle their sharpness to get back on track domestically.
