Atletico beat Betis 2-0: Giuliano Simeone, Baena scored
Atletico Madrid beat Real Betis 2-0 in the key top 4 match: Giuliano Simeone 3', Alex Baena 45+1; Antony was neutralized, Oblak kept a clean sheet away from home
Atletico Madrid took all three points away at Real Betis with a 2-0 victory that was pivotal to the race for the top four in La Liga 2025/26. Giuliano Simeone opened the scoring in the third minute and Alex Baena sealed the result in the 45'+1, in a match where Jan Oblak kept a clean sheet and Betis' right-hand man Antony was kept tight.
Development: early goal shaped the game
Before the round, Atletico and Real Betis were tied on points, so the direct result could see one of the two teams enter the Champions League group. Betis fielded their strongest squad. On Atletico's side, coach Diego Simeone surprised everyone by leaving Alexander Sorloth on the bench, giving the starting position to Alex Baena.
Just 3 minutes into the game, Giuliano Simeone – son of coach Diego Simeone – seized the opportunity in a chaotic situation, unleashing a left-footed volley to open the score 1-0. The early loss forced Betis to push up, creating many chances, but Jan Oblak continuously saved, maintaining the advantage for the away team.
As Betis pressed the field, Atletico took advantage of sharp counter-attacks. In the 45'+1 minute, Alex Baena's delicate curling shot increased the score to 2-0, ending a half in which the away team optimized their efficiency in decisive 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, Lo Celso continuously tried his luck from the second line. However, Atletico's defense played tightly, especially completely neutralizing Antony on the right wing of Betis, maintaining the advantage until the end of the match.
Tactical analysis: tight defense, effective counterattack
Atletico set up a four-man defense with Llorente, Le Normand, Giménez, Hancko in front of Oblak; the central midfield pair Koke - Barrios acted as the balancing axis. Up front, the quartet Giuliano, Baena, Nico González, Julián Alvarez flexibly switched positions, both supporting the pressing and creating a counter-attacking connection point.
Without dominating possession, Atletico won thanks to two factors: discipline in the home field and sharpness in transition. Betis' right wing, with Antony, was the main attacking outlet, but was broken up by blocking space, covering passes into the armpits and covering up. Up front, Baena showed his worth when given a chance to start: moving into spaces between the lines and finishing with quality first touches.
Betis adjusted with Lo Celso to increase the connection in the middle, while Abde created breakthroughs with set pieces. However, when the opportunities did not convert, the home team fell into a deadlock against Atletico's multi-layered defense.
Statistics and milestones
| Event | Time |
|---|---|
| Giuliano Simeone opened the scoring | 3' |
| Alex Baena makes it 2-0 | 45'+1 |
| Ez Abde's free kick hit the crossbar | Round 2 |
- Score: Real Betis 0-2 Atletico Madrid
- Clean sheet: Jan Oblak
- Locked factor: Antony (Betis)
Impact on rankings
| Team | Location | Point |
|---|---|---|
| Atletico Madrid | 4 | 17 |
| Real Betis | 6 | 16 |
Atletico rose to 4th place with 17 points, just 1 point behind Espanyol. Betis fell to 6th place with 16 points.
Line-up
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
- Julian Alvarez
Post-match perspective
The win at Betis confirmed coach Diego Simeone’s personnel choice in the key match: leaving Sorloth on the bench, giving the chance to Baena and Giuliano – who directly contributed to both goals. With a solid defensive foundation and the ability to punish opponents’ mistakes, Atletico are back on track for the top 4.
