Real Betis

Real Betis full-back Junior Firpo has said he has no preference between Real Madrid and Barcelona amid continued speculation regarding his future.

Firpo made strides for Betis in the 2018-19 season, providing thrust and energy on the left flank. Unsurprisingly, rumours have started to arise regarding a possible transfer.

Speaking to EFE (h/t AS), the Spain youth international said he doesn't have a favourite of the two La Liga giants, despite the fact that his father is a fan of Real Madrid.

"No," he said when asked if he preferred one over the other. "I said that I was more Madrid because my father is a Madrid fan and at home I see that more, but that's not to say I prefer Madrid just because my father is a fan. Honestly, Real Betis is the club that I like, where I have been since I was young."

The 22-year-old added that he's focused on his current club despite the speculation. "I have a contract with Betis," he said. "I have a duty at Betis because this club has given me everything, and I will always be thankful for that. But I am only thinking about the Euros with Spain, and after that we will see."

As Marca relayed, both Barcelona and Real Madrid have been tipped as possible suitors, while Premier League side Manchester United are also said to be in the frame.

Eleven Sports shared a clip of some of the left-back's best moments this term:

| 🤔 |

Barcelona or Real Madrid

Where would Betis' Junior Firpo develop more ❓

"I said that I was more Madrid because my father is a Madrid fan & at home I see that more but that's not to say I prefer Madrid just because my father is a fan."pic.twitter.com/557wQbFyix

— ELEVEN Football (@ElevenSportsFB) June 2, 2019

Given Betis frequently operate with a three-man defence, Firpo is given license to push forward on the left flank. That freedom allows him to showcase his best assets.

He is always looking to be positive on the ball, as he commits opposition defenders and gets crosses into the box. Physically, he's a tough man to get the better of, as the Betis star is strong in the tackle, good in the air and has relentless energy.

Per OptaJose, he also constantly puts himself into dangerous areas:

16,9 - Only Junior Firpo has averaged more touches in the opposition box (one for each 16,8 total touches) than Marc Cucurella (one for each 16,9) among the #LaLiga right/left backs this season. Purchase pic.twitter.com/SnUc6XkCah

— OptaJose (@OptaJose) May 27, 2019

If he were to move to either Madrid or Barcelona, he'd likely have to adapt his game, as playing as an orthodox left-back instead of a wing-back would require Firpo to be more defensively astute.

At Madrid, iconic left-back Marcelo endured a challenging season, as he was frequently overlooked in favour of Sergio Reguilon. Meanwhile, while Barcelona have one of the standout left-backs in the game in Jordi Alba, they lack a natural competitor for him in the position.

Giovani Lo Celso has said he is unconcerned by transfer rumours linking him with a switch to Real Madrid or Barcelona. 

The Argentina international has been impressive on loan at Real Betis this season and has developed into a goal threat in La Liga and Europe.

Speaking to France Football (h/t Marca), Lo Celso declared he's only thinking about finishing the campaign in top form and does not know if the Spanish giants are interested in his services.

"You try not to focus on these things and to keep on working the way you have been doing in order to keep improving. It's not good if you think about [transfer rumours]. There are many matches left and we're playing for some major things, so I'm focussed on this and on trying to give my best. I don't know if [Real Madrid and Barcelona] asked about signing me or not, as I don't get involved in such things. I just try to play football, which is what makes me happy. I'm thinking about trying to finish as high as possible with Real Betis and then we'll see what happens with the passing of time."

The player was also asked if he could return to parent club PSG but once again replied he does not know what his future holds.

Lo Celso experienced a breakout season with his French team in 2017-18 but tumbled down the pecking order at the Parc des Princes.

The loan switch to Betis last summer has allowed him to find regular minutes for the eighth-placed La Liga outfit.

Lo Celso has operated in a central berth for his loan club, featuring with success at times in an advanced role behind the attack.

The 22-year-old has scored 10 goals and provided three assists in La Liga and the UEFA Europa League this term.

According to Spanish newspaper ABC (h/t Football Espana), Betis have met with PSG to discuss a potential €22 million (£18.8 million) permanent transfer for the Argentinian.

The player is still in the early days of his long-term development curve, but he has quickly proved life in the Spanish league suits his style.

Lo Celso has the potential to be a box-to-box entity in Spain. He would be perfectly suited for Madrid's squad as they consider a plethora of targets in the summer after Zinedine Zidane's return to the capital.

Valladolid, which is perched in the north-west of Spain, was once the country's capital city.

Renowned explorer Christopher Columbus died there, and it's where Miguel de Cervantes, the author of Don Quixote, used to live. Its football team, Real Valladolid, hasn't had much success, but on Sunday its stadium will make a bit of history when Real Betis captain Joaquin is set to pass Barcelona's iconic star Xavi Hernandez in seventh position on the list of players to have made the most appearances in La Liga.

Provided he stays fit, the 37-year-old will bypass Iker Casillas—Spain's FIFA World Cup-winning captain and another giant of Spanish football history—on the ladder by the end of the season. It's an extraordinary achievement, which is roundly celebrated by Spanish football fans because he's one of their favourite sons.

According to Spanish football writer and broadcaster Cayetano Ros, Joaquin stands alongside Andres Iniesta and Santi Cazorla as Spain's most popular footballer currently in the game.

"He's an artist, a showman and an exceptional person," says Rafael Pineda, a journalist with El Pais who first interviewed Joaquin in 2000 when he broke into the first team at Real Betis, which is one of the two big clubs in Seville along with Sevilla.

"He's beloved in Seville," Pineda adds. "He's from a very humble family. He basically made all the people in his family rich, but he's never acted like a star. He's a regular guy, very down to earth, who is always there for charity work or practically for anything which he's invited to do. He's such a personality. When he leaves football, it's easy to see him being lined up to do media work or television."

Everyone knows Joaquin in Spain for his jokes and japes. A few years ago, he went on El Hormiguero, a hit daily TV show. During the interview, the show's host had a hen dropped in front of Joaquin while he tipped off the audience that one of his guest's hidden talents was his ability to hypnotise hens. Joaquin laughed easily and then went about hypnotising the hen. He set to his bizarre task with the kind of earnestness that it would be difficult to imagine, say, LeBron James or Roger Federer mustering.

Joaquin's defining moment in football happened a long time ago. As a 20-year-old, he lit up Spain's progress at the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Japan and South Korea. When Spain met South Korea in the quarter-finals, Joaquin ran the hosts ragged. A couple of minutes into extra time, he skinned his marker and lobbed a delicate cross on to the head of Fernando Morientes, who came in at the back post to score.

"That, there, was a synopsis of his career," Ros says. "He beat his man, got to the byline and crossed the ball into the box. It was a perfect cross. The ball flew so softly. It was ideal for a centre-forward to head into the goal."

Only the goal wasn't allowed. Joaquin was pulled up for crossing the ball when it was out of play. Video replays show the ball never went out of play. In one of the most notorious matches in World Cup history, several dodgy referring decisions—referred to as "an affront to sport" by the Daily Telegraph's Paul Hayward—led to Spain's elimination. They lost in a penalty shootout, during which Joaquin was the only player to miss.

Joaquin was a mainstay in Spain's national team for several years. He amassed more than 50 caps, also playing a part in a run to the round of 16 of the 2006 FIFA World Cup, but he fell out of favour with coach Luis Aragones and failed to make the squad for the nation's historic UEFA Euro 2008-winning campaign and subsequent victories in the 2010 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2012.

"This is his great shame," Pineda says. "He missed the train."

Although he flirted with a move to Real Madrid during the club's Galactico years, Joaquin never joined one of the country's Big Two: Barcelona or Madrid. Along with the fact that he missed out on his national team's glories, it helps to explain why Joaquin is not more widely known around the world. On his CV, he only has two Copa del Rey medals to show for almost two decades playing top-flight football. It's a meagre return for a player of his talent.

Joaquin won Spain's domestic cup competition with Real Betis in 2005. He brought the cup along to the church for his wedding ceremony a few weeks later. He never played in his other cup-winning final, however—he was an unused sub in Valencia's win over Getafe in the 2008 decider, with his side featuring Juan Mata, David Silva and David Villa.

Joaquin left Real Betis for Valencia in a big-money move in 2006. He spent five seasons at Valencia in the middle of a volatile period in its history. During what should have been the peak years of his career, he had a mixed return at the club.

"My memory is he was a player with class, a very elegant player, with a lot of quality, but in Valencia he was asked to work harder," Ros says. "I remember Quique Sanchez Flores was the manager who signed him. He used to tell him that he needed to come to training with his 'working overalls' on. He always wanted him to work harder.

"The thing is, Joaquin came to the club at a chaotic time; there were a lot of problems at board level. A huge amount of debt had been accumulated, the coaches kept changing and there was a lot of fan unrest. He cost a lot of money—€25 million (then £18 million)—so the club expected performances like a crack (superstar), but he didn't reach that point. He was a good player, but he wasn't a crack."

Ronald Koeman, who is currently managing the Netherlands, replaced Sanchez Flores in 2007. The Dutchman and Joaquin never saw eye to eye. It was Koeman who left the player twisting in the wind when the club won the Copa del Rey during the 2007-08 season.

"He never had a good relationship with Koeman," Ros says. "Koeman didn't want him, and Joaquin had some very strong words for Koeman. He accused Koeman of being a drunk and unprofessional. The problem for Joaquin was that he never had a coach at Valencia who understood him. He has that now at Betis with Quique Setien.

"Setien is a coach who loves the beautiful game. He's different to Sanchez Flores, for example, who likes physical footballers, fighters, guys who work hard. Joaquin isn't this kind of player."

Joaquin has found peace back at Real Betis, the club that has nurtured him since he first joined as an academy player in 1994. He has flourished in particular under Setien, who values his artistry, and it is one of the reasons why Joaquin is having such an impressive, extended final act to his career.

Joaquin's longevity is remarkable. He does yoga at 40 degrees Celsius. He has avoided serious injury. He's hardly ever been out of the game for more than a month. He himself attributes his healthy body to having been breastfed until the age of six.  

"He's stayed playing so long because he has a privileged set of genes," Pineda says. "The doctors at Betis always say that he is an athletic specimen. He has perfect musculature. It's amazing because when he was young, he never took care of himself. He didn't eat well. He went out late at night. He never rested, although now he's different.

"I remember one time when he was young, he went out all night. There was a nightclub here in Seville that had a dust floor. So the next morning he arrived at training, and his shoes were all yellow. When Lorenzo Serra Ferrer, who was the club's coach, saw him he asked where had he come from because his shoes were caked in this yellow dust. Joaquin said he had come running cross-country! He was still drunk. Serra forgive him, and he allowed him to rest."

Joaquin no longer burns the candle at both ends. What is perhaps most impressive about him is that he has transformed his style of play. He used to be an old-fashioned winger, playing wide on the right. Now he has come infield. His game is more nuanced. His transformation is similar in ways to the late-career switch that Ryan Giggs made, which extended his career at Manchester United.

"Unless you're a class player, you can't continue to play at the top level at his age," says Manu Sainz, a journalist with Diario AS. "It shows he takes care of himself and that he has a lot of quality. It's interesting that he's been able to reinvent himself. Now he attacks in the centre of the pitch. Before he operated in a limited area—on the wing. It's an incredible metamorphosis for a player at 36 or 37 to recreate himself as a different style of footballer.

"When a player gets to his age, the normal thing that happens is their virtues wither and die. The goalscorer stops scoring goals. The defender becomes slower. But Joaquin has found new skills. He's changed so he continues to be vital. And he's playing at the highest level—in Spain's first division and in the UEFA Europa League (although Betis were knocked out by Rennes on Thursday). He's not playing in Saudi Arabia.

"I never thought he could be so intelligent to rebuild himself as a different footballer. It's clear he really understands football."

This season, he has scored some critical goals, including the winner in the Seville derby in September and from a corner in the first leg of Betis' Copa del Rey semi-final against his old employers Valencia. The two sides meet for the second leg on Thursday.

Tied at 2-2, Real Betis will be looking to seal a place in the final, which is slated to be played in their stadium in May. Joaquin will hope to be there. We don't know when his race will be run. He has a contract until 2020.

"I remember when Joaquin was first playing with Betis," Pineda says. "This was 14, 15 years ago. His father said to us that this guy could play until he's 40 years old. We didn't believe him. But the idea doesn't sound so stupid now."

                       

Follow Richard on Twitter: @Richard_Fitz

Real Betis have completed the capture of William Carvalho from Sporting CP, it was confirmed on Friday.

The Spanish side revealed the transfer had been finalised, with the Portugal international penning a five-year deal with his new employers:

📣 OFFICIAL | #RealBetis signs Portuguese international William Carvalho ✍

Welcome, @wllmcarvalho14! 😀👏

➡ https://t.co/hQJqvtBUbV#Carvalho2023 pic.twitter.com/bloUA4Nqvx

— Real Betis Balompié (@RealBetis_en) July 13, 2018

During his time in the Primeira Liga, Carvalho emerged as one of the finest deep-lying midfield players in the division. Betis manager Quique Setien will now hope he can make an impact in La Liga next season. Here's a look at what to expect from the midfielder:

Football writer Simon Harrison offered his view on the signing:

If you’d have said 12 months ago that Betis were going to have Marc Bartra and William Carvalho in their squad for 2018/19, they would have laughed. Setién has turned things around and now their style of play and how they are doing things on and off the pitch tempt big names.

— Simon Harrison (@simonhfootball) July 13, 2018

There has been a lot of hype and subsequent discussion about Carvalho in recent years.

The 26-year-old clearly has a lot to offer. Carvalho, primarily, is a huge presence in the middle of the park. His large frame makes him a tough man to bypass in midfield, able to bully opponents out of possession, challenge in the air and step in to stop attacks.

On the ball, he has quality, too. Carvalho has great composure in his distribution; he's not a long, raking passer of the ball, but he is sharp in laying possession off quickly. Additionally, the Selecao man has a turn of pace that can see him scythe through the middle of the pitch, quickly converting defence into attack for his team.

WhoScored.com highlighted his dribbling ability:

William Carvalho: Of the 50 players to have attempted 50+ dribbles, Carvalho had the best dribble success rate (80.4%) in Liga NOS this season

For more player stats -- https://t.co/ynzQDq96b2 pic.twitter.com/7SKuVVjvNX

— WhoScored (@WhoScored) May 31, 2018

They are qualities he has shown at the highest level. Carvalho has performed well for Sporting in Europe, while he's also done well for Portugal on the international scene, particularly helping the team win the 2016 UEFA European Championship.

There are improvements Carvalho will need to make with Real Betis. Occasionally, he can lose focus when he's not tasked with doing too much defending, while his tackling can be a little erratic on occasion as well. Manager Setien will feel as though he can refine these rough edges in the player's game, though.

What Real Betis potentially have on their hands is a complete midfield player. Carvalho has the attributes to do it all, and he can get even better playing at a higher level. Real Betis will hope to see the Portuguese make this exciting progression in the next chapter of his career.

Real Betis continued their push for a European place with a 1-0 win over Girona at the Estadi Montilivi on Friday.

Loren Moron scored the only goal of the game in the first half, although Girona had three goals disallowed and may feel aggrieved to have failed to get anything out of the game.

Here's a look at the updated standings, followed by a recap of the best of the action.

     

La Liga Standings (Team, Played, Goal Difference, Points)

1. Barcelona, 31, 63, 79

2. Atletico Madrid, 31, 36, 68

3. Valencia, 31, 28, 65

4. Real Madrid, 31, 43, 64

5. Real Betis, 32, 0, 52

6. Villarreal, 31, 4, 47

7. Sevilla, 31, -11, 46

8. Girona, 32, -5, 44

9. Celta Vigo 31, 7, 43

10. Eibar, 31, -9, 40

11. Getafe, 31, 5, 39

12. Athletic, 31, -2, 39

13. Real Sociedad, 31, 4, 37

14. Espanyol, 31, -12, 36

15. Leganes, 31, -13, 36

16. Alaves, 31, -17, 35

17. Levante, 31, -17, 31

18. Deportivo La Coruna, 31, -34, 23

19. Las Palmas, 31, -41, 21

20. Malaga, 31, -29, 17

        

Friday Recap

Girona went into the game hoping to respond to their 5-0 thrashing by Real Sociedad last time out and resume their unlikely quest for European football.

There was a special atmosphere outside the ground before kick-off, as shown by the club's Twitter account:

😮 NOW THAT IS AN ATMOSPHERE!

💥 Look at the scenes outside Montilivi as Girona arrive for tonight’s ENORMOUS match with Real Betis! [via @josepmpuig]

#️⃣ #GironaFC #GironaRealBetispic.twitter.com/yFoZXKY1PV

— GironaUK (@GironaUK) April 13, 2018

The game kicked off in rainy conditions, which affected both sets of players in the early stages. Chances were at a premium until the game really sparked into life midway through the first half.

Real Betis twice went close as Fabian's effort was deflected wide before Aissa Mandi flashed a header off target. Girona then had an effort ruled out for offside after Juanpe converted Alex Granell's free-kick.

Girona began to push forward and were made to pay as Betis caught then on the break for the opener. A great run from Joaquin allowed him to tee up Loren to dink over goalkeeper Bono.

Football writer Simon Harrison praised Joaquin for his part in the goal:

What a goal that is. Joaquin skins two and slides a perfect pass through to Loren. The man is timeless.

— Simon Harrison (@simonhfootball) April 13, 2018

The hosts almost produced the perfect response as Cristhian Stuani looked certain to equalise just minutes later but saw his effort cleared off the line.

Girona made a double change at the start of the second half, sending on Anthony Lozano and Aday Benitez as they sought a way back into the game. They did manage to get the ball in the back of the net through Stuani, but again it was ruled out.

Incredibly, Girona had a third effort chalked off on 76 minutes as Real Betis managed to hold on and take all three points.

Football writer Sid Lowe noted their good form and how they are the first team to win at Girona in 2018:

Betis, first team to win at Montilivi in 2018. #AlwaysWatchBetis (even if for different, but still impressive, reasons now)

— Sid Lowe (@sidlowe) April 13, 2018

It's an important victory for in-form Betis, who have now recorded five La Liga wins in a row to move five points clear of Villarreal in fifth. 

With the notable exception of 2015, Spain have been utterly dominant in Under-21 Championships this decade. 2011 saw them defeat Switzerland 2-0 in the final; in 2013 they beat Italy 4-2; and in 2017, they enter the final against Germany as heavy, heavy favourites.

The calibre of player they've taken to this tournament has been just as remarkable as their collective performances. 2011 saw Thiago Alcantara, Juan Mata, Ander Herrera and Javi Martinez form an all-powerful midfield, while in 2013, Isco, Asier Illarramendi and Koke joined Thiago to make them even stronger.

This year a new crop have shined. In their first game of the tournament—a 5-0 demolition of Macedonia—Marco Asensio, fresh off scoring in the UEFA Champions League final, grabbed the headlines (again) with an eye-popping hat-trick.

Atletico Madrid's Saul Niguez also scored that day, and he has gone on to bag four more, including a ridiculous hat-trick against Italy in the semi-final, while Marcos Llorente has swept up at the base of midfield in a calm, collected manner.

But one man's name currently in the papers was not on the teamsheet for that opening fixture, and said man was not happy about it.

According to ESPN FC's David Cartlidge, Dani Ceballos—who you may well have seen tear Italy's entire team apart with one slinking dribble on Tuesday—was incredibly disappointed not to have been handed a key role and had to set about changing matters.

It's not the first time this season he's been left sidelined; Gus Poyet, when manager of Real Betis, inexplicably pushed him (and Chelsea loanee Charly Musonda) away from the first-team squad for periods of time before Christmas. From a footballing perspective it made no sense, as Ceballos is the most creative, talented player in that team and they battled relegation from August to April, but then, the decision to drop him may well have had nothing to do with football at all.

Yeah, I've just decided that Gus Poyet not starting Ceballos is definitely the worst hill to die on.

— Robbie Dunne (@robbiejdunne) June 27, 2017

Despite being aged just 20, Ceballos already has a chequered past. According to Goal.com, he's made some derogatory comments in the past about different regions of Spain; insulted legendary goalkeeper Iker Casillas and his wife; told a just-relegated player that he hopes his club rots in the second division; and even sent a pro-General Franco tweet.

That's been the story of his career to date: off-field issues, distractions and mishaps coming to the fore, with the unfortunate casualty being his football. For one so young to be constantly battling back from adversity is a true shame.

Missing the starting XI against Macedonia was simply the next in a lengthy line of footballing setbacks, but Ceballos made the most of his 27 minutes off the bench against Macedonia and found himself in the starting XI against Portugal for the group's key clash.

They won, he played well, and he found himself back on the bench for the third game—only this time it was alongside Asensio and Saul, as coach Albert Celades rotated his crop ahead of the semi-finals.

Against Italy, he shot to the fore for all the right reasons. His tempo-setting midfield play, so often seen in excellent Real Betis performances this year, were key to Spain controlling the game and controlling proceedings. Saul Niguez may have scored another rocket, but that was almost overlooked due to Ceballos producing the moment of the game.

Having already nutmegged Roberto Gagliardini three times and got him sent off for two yellows earned from pure frustration, he embarked on a scintillating run, ducked between two midfielders after an outrageous fake pass sent them the wrong way, beat one more and then nutmegged another poor soul in the box to set up a shot. It left the crowd, the Twittersphere, the universe gobsmacked.

That's what Ceballos is, in pure footballing terms: An electric, exciting, dazzling, smart midfielder. If he can set aside his documented off-field issues and control his emotions, the sky's the limit for him.

That slick fake-pass move to flummox Italy is one of his specialties. He did it to Atletico Madrid last season too, fooling two of Diego Simeone's seasoned warhorses with a quick swish of the leg. In the same game, he smacked the post from distance, then went one better and powered a ridiculous volley in from outside the box after a corner had been headed clear.

But while it's easy to fall for Ceballos' highlight reel moments and simply consider him a difference-maker in the final third, that would do an injustice to his abilities in the other two.

He can drop into deeper areas and control games. For long periods against Italy he was level with Marcos Llorente in the base of midfield, playing as a No. 6 and dictating. He set Spain's rhythm and tempo, kept the ball moving and probed for weak points in Italy's formation. From there he was able to either slalom forward and beat markers or launch accurate passes into Gerard Deulofeu or Asensio.

He also put the work in defensively, tracking men back and, on a number of occasions, getting a vital foot in to dispossess just outside his own box. He won't make an elite box-to-box midfielder, nor will he try to, but the graft shown is important—particularly given the circumstances he started the tournament in, and given Barcelona's Denis Suarez is on the bench, itching to reclaim that spot in the team.

The whole world has seen Ceballos at his best during this tournament, and, as if often the case, transfer links have followed. Real Betis' president has been forced to deny reports that Real Madrid are just a step away from signing him, per Canal Sur TV (h/t ESPN's Adriana Garcia), but the fact he has a €15 million buyout clause is public knowledge and can only work against the Andalusian club.

€15 million for a player who can do what he's done this summer, at the age he is? It shouldn't just be Real Madrid interested; it should be every top club on the continent.

      

Facebook.com/SamTigheBR

—

Real Betis started the 23rd round of La Liga in fifth position, just one point off the last qualification spot for next season’s Champions League.

Malaga, the team in that much-coveted fourth position, are currently banned from the next European competition they qualify for, meaning this season fifth may be enough to qualify for the UCL. All this means that the prospect of premium European football at the Villamarin is a distinct possibility. 

Many would feel it would only be justice for one of the oldest teams in Spain, founded in Sevilla over a century ago, and that in its full name, Real Betis Balompié, still includes the historic Spanish term for football.

Perhaps more impressively, they are still in that position after a short run of poor results that includes defeats in their last two games to Madrid clubs Atlético and Rayo Vallecano.

However their most famous achievement of this season also came against a club from the capital. In November, they inflicted the third defeat of the season on the league champions, Real Madrid.

The Beticos are no strangers to upsets; their most famous of recent times came in the 2008 when they came back from two goals down to beat Catalan giants FC Barcelona.

They are led by coach Pepe Mel, a former striker for the club formed in Madrid's youth academy. Betis counts on a mix of experienced talent like Ruben Castro and young stars of the likes of Beñat Etxebarria. The latter, a talented creative midfielder, has already been linked to major clubs across the continent (via Goal.com).

Perhaps what makes Betis so special is that on top of the cold reality of points gathered and table standings, their style of football that has attracted widespread praise. With one of the most lively fans in the country backing them week in and week out, they have been playing an attractive form of offensive football under Mel.

Mel had joined Betis a year after they were relegated from the first division in 2009 and took them back to the top tier of Spanish football in his first season in charge.

However even in the second division, their free-flowing and attack-minded ethos was part of their identity. It was first displayed on the global stage in their King’s Cup quarterfinal against Barcelona in the 2010-2011 season.

Having been crushed by the Blaugrana 5-0 in Barcelona, Betis had little hopes of progressing when the Catalans travelled to Sevilla for the return leg. However, Betis ended up beating Barcelona 3-1 and, although they did not progress, they outplayed a Barcelona side that had been undefeated in their last 28 matches.

They went on to top the second division that season and in their first season back in the top tier, they finished 13th. However they started their second season with a bang, putting five goals past Marcelo Bielsa’s Athletic Bilbao. They went on to have a good season and were capable of reacting after a painful 5-0 defeat to archrivals Sevilla with a good run of results.

After the cup quarterfinal in 2011, Pep Guardiola had said:

When we analysed our opponent, we knew it was going to be a tough tie. We knew full well that we’d have trouble, and that was the case. I want to congratulate Betis, a historic team that has always played good football, and who have top quality players (via TotalBarca).

As in so many cases, Guardiola’s analysis has been proved right, and perhaps he will be one of the few who are not surprised to see Betis playing such a prominent role in this year’s battle for Europe.

Real Betis Balompie S.A.D. has been named the first La Liga BBVA Team of the Week for B/R in 2013. The reason is its rich history which is seldom mentioned outside of Spain.

History

Real Betis was founded in Sevilla, Spain on September 12, 1907 according to its webpage in Spanish. The first President was Alfonso Castillo de Ochoa.

The club started to attract attention after winning the Copa De Sevilla in 1910, 1911, 1912, and 1915. It won the Copa De Andalucia in 1910 as well. Alfonso XIII, at the time King of Spain, awarded the Real title in 1914.

During the 1920s, the club was in a general decline until the 1930s. Real Betis was promoted to the Second Division in 1928.

During the 1930s, the club experienced a golden age in its history. Betis (the Real was removed during the Spanish Republic of the 1930's) was promoted to the First Division.

After their promotion, Betis won the 1934-35 La Liga title after defeating Santander in the finals. Unfortunately, the golden age came to an end with the Spanish Civil War.

After the end of the Civil War, Real Betis descended into the Second Division. The reason being that the team competed in the 1939-40 season when other La Liga teams decided to reorganize.

Real Betis eventually descended into the Third Division and decline until 1958, then later that year returned to the First Division following a defeat of Sevilla.

The 1960s and 70s were another golden era for Real Betis. The names of Rogelio Sosa and Rafael Gordillo were associated with this era.

Real Betis won the Trofeo Carranza and participated in the Copa de Ferias. It was also champion of the Copa Del Rey in 1977 after being sub-champions two times.

The club suffered from economic problems during the 1980s and 90s before Manuel Ruiz de Lopera managed a financial reorganization after purchasing the club in 1992.

Real Betis enjoyed great moments between 1992 to 2012. One example was the UEFA Europa League match against Vejle BK of Denmark on September 29, 1998.

The result was a five-goal victory over the scoreless Danish club.

Present Time

Real Betis is currently in fifth place in the 2012-13 La Liga tables behind FC Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid, and Malaga. The club has 28 points with nine victories, seven losses, and one draw.

Real Betis currently has 26 goals scored for and 28 against. The goal differential for the club is a -2.

In spite of this, the team recently defeated a scoreless Real Madrid during the current La Liga season. It remains to be seen what will transpire for Real Betis yet they are capable of survival.

My thanks to the BR readers for their time in reading about the latest La Liga BBVA Club of the week. I would like to wish you the best now and always.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5ANywwhC_8

If Arsene Wenger is looking for more firepower, he might try looking at one of his on-loan strikers.

As Arsenal continue to struggle in the Premier League (the Gunners are now 10th and sit behind Stoke City, West Ham and Swansea), Costa Rican striker Joel Campbell scored a stunner of a long-range goal this weekend in La Liga for Real Betis.

If that name sounds familiar for Gooners, it should. Campbell is an Arsenal player who has been loaned out to Betis for the season (via Arsenal.com). Now 20 years old, Campbell has earned 16 senior caps for Costa Rica, scoring seven times.

His goal this weekend was his second in league play this season for Betis. And it was a beauty.

The goal appears in the video clip above. It's our Set Piece Goal of the Weekend. Enjoy.

Here's the setting. In the 76th minute, Real Betis were tied 2-2 with hosts Deportivo La Coruña. Campbell took possession of the ball on the right wing, cut in toward the box and curled a gorgeous left-footed shot into the corner of the net at the far post.

Campbell literally could not have placed the shot any better. The goalkeeper had no chance.

It turned out to be the match-winner, too. Betis held onto the 3-2 lead and moved up to fourth place and the Champions League spots with the victory (via Associated Press).

All in all, not a bad day at all for the youngster. In fact, it's hard to imagine many of Arsenal's current attackers producing something so brilliant.

But will Wenger take notice?

Follow @MikeCummings37