Europa League: Real Betis defeats AS Roma 2-1 in Rome

Spanish La Liga side on Thursday added to the misery of AS Roma in the Europa League when they recorded a 2-1 at the Stadio Olimpico against Jose Mourinho’s men.

Roma drew the first blood when Paulo Dybala gave them the lead from the penalty spot.

 Real Betis eventually turned it around to win 2-1 at the Stadio Olimpico, with Nicolò Zaniolo sent off for a petulant foul in stoppages.

The Giallorossi have so far recorded just three points from three games. More if the reason they needed a victory was to go top of the group, having lost to Ludogorets and beaten HJK.

 Betis came into the game with a perfect record, and we’re less under pressure to get the business done in Italy.

Roma had another injury problem within five minutes when Zeki Celik had to come off with a knee injury, replaced by Leonardo Spinazzola.

The visitors hit top gear with a chance, but  Rui Patricio parried a Sergio Canales snapshot. Nabil Fekir’s shot thumped the base of the near post from the edge of the box.

Fekir was also forced off in the first half with a muscular injury. So Betis, too, had to make an emergency change.

Roma were awarded a penalty after a VAR consultation. From a Roma corner that skimmed the head of Roger Ibanez, Aitor Ruibal had his arms out-stretched and raised to charge it down for an inevitable penalty.

Paulo Dybala made no mistake when he sent Claudio Bravo the wrong way to convert.

Luiz Henrique’s strike was smothered after wrong-footing Ibanez.

The visitors restored parity through  Guido Rodriguez from a ferocious daisy-cutter from a distance that fizzed into the near bottom corner.

 

After the restart, Bravo made a huge from Bryan Cristante after a chaotic corner, while Zaniolo had a shot smothered at the near bottom corner.

Although Roma were the better team in the second half, after a difficult first period, they failed to get the needed result.

Bravo fingertipped a dangerous Nicola Zalewski roll across from the right.

Betis took the lead a few minutes later with their first chance in quite a while. Rodri’s cross found Luiz Henrique to tower above Spinazzola at the back post and send a looping header over Rui Patricio.

Things got worse for Roma when Zaniolo lost his temper and was sent off for a truly idiotic kick off the ball.

Written by Oladipupo Mojeed