Betis v United: Things we noticed
Nabil Fekir's strike just after half-time was enough to give Real Betis a 1-0 victory over Manchester United in our second and final winter friendly out in Spain.
Erik ten Hag's side were more controlled in possession and more obdurate in defence, but a young side were edged out by the experienced La Liga outfit at the Estadio Benito Villamarin.
So, what did we take from our first-ever visit to the green-and-white side of Seville?
WHAT AN ARENA!
Real Betis haven’t enjoyed the same limelight or success of their local rivals Sevilla in recent years, but they are passionately supported in this corner of the world and the vast, sprawling Estadio Benito Villamarin is testament to that. Over 60,000 fans can be accommodated in the green-and-white interior of this ground, while visitors are welcomed by a museum displaying shirts of great past players as well as the club’s most cherished honours: the 1935 La Liga title and three Copas del Rey. The view from the upper concourses isn't bad either, as Seville's distinctive white-facaded buildings and orange trees fan out in the direction of the Guadalquivir River which bissects the city. Buena vista!
TWO TEAM ALTERATIONS
David De Gea missed out on Wednesday’s friendly with Cadiz, as Martin Dubravka played the full 90 minutes in goal during our 4-2 defeat. Our no.1 was back in the line-up in place of the Slovakian on Saturday, however, and that looked like being our only change to the starting XI until, 10 minutes before kick-off, Isak Hansen-Aaroen was drafted in to replace Donny van de Beek in midfield.
The Verdiblancos were without five first-team players involved at the World Cup, with Portugal’s William Carvalho and Argentina pair German Pezzella and Guido Rodriguez among the absentees. Captain and club legend Joaquin was also missing due to a muscle injury but the Champions League challengers were still able to name a very competitive side as Fekir, a World Cup winner with France, and top scorer Borja Iglesias led the attack.
TOUGH TO TAKE FOR TEDEN
It was a slow opening to the game, with both sides seeking to keep possession and prise an opening and the only thing of real note to report in the first 20 minutes was the unfortunate injury suffered by Teden Mengi, who pulled up clutching his hamstring when trying to make a recovery run. It’s a setback for the young Academy graduate, who has started both games in Spain after a long spell on the sidelines. The 20-year-old had to be stretchered off the field, with Rhys Bennett replacing him.
VIVA GARNACHO!
The stadium was only around a quarter full, but our travelling fans high up in the third tier made their presence clear by proudly displaying the usual red, white and black banners reading ‘Manchester born and bred’, ‘Bring on United’ and the like, as well as a couple of Argentina flags. They may have been suffering from vertigo due to their elevated position but it was a more defined ‘away end’ than at Cadiz on Wednesday night and they broke out into a chorus of ‘Viva Garnacho’ during the first half, as the United youngster regularly looked to get on the ball and drive forward to break through the Betis masses.
BETTER ON THE BALL
In his pre-match interview with MUTV, Ten Hag was clear that he wanted a better performance from his players than in Cadiz, both in and out of possession. He also asked them to “keep the ball better” and “get switches of play in, make runs”. The Reds delivered the former in a cagey first half - registering 54 per cent possession - but struggled to make progress in the latter aspect, with long rangers from Anthony Elanga and Anthony Martial being our only real glimpses of goal. The home side didn’t fare much better, although Paul Akouokou did rattle the post on 22 minutes.
FEKIR SHOWS HIS CLASS
On Wednesday, it was United who struck early in the second half through Kobbie Mainoo, but roles were reversed this time around. After four substitutions at the interval, the Reds were caught short by a quickly taken free-kick. Luiz Henrique dummied for Iglesias, who ushered a pinpoint pass through to Fekir – wearing the captain’s armband following Sergio Canales’s departure. The Betis no.8 took one touch before passing the ball nonchalantly into the corner of the goal and Tom Heaton’s second act after replacing De Gea - he had to deny Henrique 15 seconds into the half - was to retrieve it out of the net.
IQBAL CATCHES THE EYE
It wasn't a vintage United performance by any means, but one player who did fare well - and for the second time in four days - was Zidane Iqbal. The Iraq international midfielder who was born and raised in Manchester was composed on the ball in the middle of the park, completing 93 per cent of his passes according to our Match Centre. He also executed a delightful piece of skill in the 69th minute to outfox Betis defender Martin Montoya on the touchline and continue the play infield. It will be interesting to see how Zidane develops in the coming months and years after adding minutes from this winter camp to those he tallied up on Tour 2022.
HEATON’S HELPING HAND
United's substitute keeper was unable to do anything about the winning goal, but he did pull off a couple of excellent saves in the second half to prevent Betis from extending their lead, one with his feet and the other being a finger-tip stop to foil a far-post header. Even up in the press box and in a stadium containing thousands of people, Heaton's booming voice was audible as he helped guide an increasingly younger United side – Sam Murray, Kobbie Mainoo, Shola Shoretire, Noam Emeran and Joe Hugill were all given half an hour or more out on the pitch – through the remainder of the contest.
A LEARNING CURVE
So both of United’s games in Spain have ended in defeat, but a youthful squad will surely take many learnings from the experience while those senior players who have travelled can benefit from minutes in their legs ahead of the Carabao Cup clash with Burnley in 11 days’ time. Victor Lindelof and Scott McTominay both completed the full 90 minutes, while Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Garnacho and Elanga were also involved in each half. Bring on the restart!