Atletico beat Betis 2-0: Giuliano Simeone and Baena scored.

Atletico Madrid secured maximum points away at Real Betis with a crucial 2-0 victory that will be pivotal in the race for a top-four finish in La Liga 2025/26. Giuliano Simeone opened the scoring in the 3rd minute and Alex Baena sealed the victory in the 45th minute + 1, in a match where Jan Oblak kept a clean sheet and Betis' right-wing threat Antony was effectively neutralized.

Match developments: an early goal shaped the course of the game.

Before the match, Atletico and Real Betis were level on points, so the direct result could see one of them qualify for the Champions League. Betis fielded their strongest lineup. Atletico, on the other hand, surprised everyone by leaving Alexander Sorloth on the bench and giving Alex Baena a starting spot.

Just three minutes into the match, Giuliano Simeone – son of coach Diego Simeone – seized the opportunity in a chaotic situation, unleashing a left-footed volley to open the scoring 1-0. The early goal forced Betis to push forward, creating numerous chances, but Jan Oblak made several saves, maintaining the visitors' advantage.

While Betis pressed relentlessly, Atletico capitalized on sharp counter-attacks. In the 45th minute +1, Alex Baena curled a delicate shot into the net to make it 2-0, concluding a half in which the visitors maximized their effectiveness in crucial moments.

In the second half, Betis increased their creativity by bringing Lo Celso onto the field. The home team had dangerous shots: Ez Abde's free kick hit the crossbar, and Lo Celso repeatedly tried his luck from outside the penalty area. However, Atletico's defense played tightly, especially completely neutralizing Antony on Betis' right wing, preserving their advantage until the end of the match.

Tactical analysis: tight defense, effective counter-attack.

Atletico deployed a four-man defense with Llorente, Le Normand, Giménez, and Hancko in front of Oblak; the central midfield pairing of Koke and Barrios provided balance. Up front, the quartet of Giuliano, Baena, Nico González, and Julián Alvarez flexibly swapped positions, both supporting pressing and creating links for counter-attacks.

Atletico didn't need overwhelming ball control to win; their victory was thanks to two factors: discipline in their own half and sharp transitions. Betis' right wing, with Antony as their main attacking threat, was neutralized by Atletico's effective blocking of space, shielding of passes into the flanks, and timely cover. Up front, Baena showed his value when given a starting opportunity: moving into the spaces between the lines and finishing with quality one-touch shots.

Betis made adjustments with Lo Celso to increase connectivity in midfield, while Abde created chances with set pieces. However, when opportunities failed to convert, the home team found themselves in a stalemate against Atletico's multi-layered defense.

Statistics and key milestones

• Score: Real Betis 0-2 Atletico Madrid
• Clean sheet: Jan Oblak
• Key player locked in: Antony (Betis)

Impact on rankings

Atletico moved up to fourth place with 17 points, just one point behind Espanyol. Betis dropped to sixth place with 16 points.

Starting lineup

Real Betis

• Pau Lopez; Bellerin, Bartra, Natan, Ricardo Rodriguez
• Amrabat, Marc Roca
• Antony, Fornals, Ez Abde
• Cucho Hernandez

Atletico Madrid

• Oblak; Llorente, Le Normand, Giménez, Hancko
• Koke, Barrios
• Giuliano, Baena, Nico González
• Julián Alvarez

Post-match perspective

The victory at Betis confirmed coach Diego Simeone's personnel choices in this crucial match: leaving Sorloth on the bench and giving opportunities to Baena and Giuliano – who were directly involved in both goals. With a solid defensive foundation and the ability to punish opponents' mistakes, Atletico are back on track to reach the top four.