Real Betis vs Alavés: Lo Celso strike seals 1-0 win and unbeaten start

Lo Celso’s alert finish defines a tight night

One lapse, one swing of a left boot, and that was that. Giovani Lo Celso’s 16th-minute strike decided a cagey Real Betis vs Alavés clash at Estadio La Cartuja de Sevilla, giving Betis a 1-0 win and an unbeaten start to the new LaLiga season.

The moment that mattered was born out of hesitation. Alavés’ back line seemed to freeze after a loose ball spilled inside the box. Lo Celso didn’t. He stepped in first, set himself, and lashed low past Pau López’s opposite number before the defense could react. No drama, no offside fuss—just a midfielder alive to a chance that others paused on.

Up to that point, Betis had set the tone with a sharp 4-3-3. Pau López started in goal behind a back four of Héctor Bellerín, Marc Bartra, Natan, and Junior Firpo. The midfield triangle—Lo Celso, Pablo Fornals, and Sergi Altimira—set the rhythm, while Rodrigo Riquelme and Aitor Ruibal flanked Cucho Hernández across the front. The idea was clear: control through the middle, quick switches to the full-backs, and early runs across the Alavés center-backs.

Lo Celso’s early strike gave Betis the platform they wanted. Fornals tucked inside to support build-up, Altimira screened and broke up counters, and Bellerín pushed high to pin back the Alavés left side. Riquelme drifted into pockets between the lines, forcing Alavés to choose between tracking him or holding the shape. That uncertainty opened the half-space for Lo Celso to arrive from deep—the very pattern that led to the goal.

Alavés responded with a steady climb into the game rather than a sudden surge. Jon Guridi drove through midfield in the 23rd minute but couldn’t find the finish, a sign of promise that didn’t quite develop into clear chances. They got runners forward and forced a few scrambles, yet Betis protected their box well, with Bartra and Natan clearing early and often. Pau López stayed largely untroubled before the break, more organizer than shot-stopper.

How the game unfolded and what it means

The second half turned into a grind. Alavés tried to drag Betis into a more open contest—quick diagonals, earlier crosses, and a higher press on the first pass out from the back. Betis answered by shrinking the pitch, taking a touch less in midfield and hitting Ruibal and Riquelme earlier on the flanks. It wasn’t pretty, but it was effective.

Mariano Díaz offered Alavés a different threat late on, peeling toward the near post and flashing wide with one of their better openings. Betis had a scare at 83 minutes when Alavés earned a corner and threw bodies forward, yet the delivery didn’t test López. The keeper claimed what he needed to, and his defenders won first contact on the rest. On a night like this, that’s half the job.

Discipline tightened as legs tired. Fouls crept in and the cards followed: F. Garcés saw yellow at 78 minutes, A. Blanco joined him at 81, and Cucho Hernández went into the book for Betis two minutes later after a tussle in midfield. Nothing boiled over, but the tone shifted—stop-start rhythms, set-piece chess, and a few long clearances into space.

Both benches tried to tilt the balance. Alavés made the first notable move, sending on Calebe for V. Parada in the 77th minute to add energy and ball-carrying from deep. Betis countered by protecting their lead: D. Gómez replaced the match-winner Lo Celso in the 85th minute to add fresh legs and press the Alavés build-up. Still chasing the game, Alavés turned to L. Pinillos for A. Blanco at 89 minutes in a final push for width and deliveries. The pattern stayed the same—Alavés with territory, Betis with resolve.

If the goal told one story, the clean sheet told another. López was decisive in the air, Bartra organized the line, and Natan matched runners stride for stride. Junior Firpo settled after a few early duels and offered a steady outlet down the left. Bellerín’s high starting positions in the first half helped Betis pin Alavés back; after the break, he recalibrated into a more conservative role to close the game out.

In midfield, Fornals showed why coaches trust him—calm on the ball, smart off it. Altimira’s reading of danger kept Alavés from playing through the centre, and his quick fouls were well-timed without crossing the line. Lo Celso’s winner will take the headlines, but his constant scanning and second-ball instincts were just as important as the finish.

Up front, Cucho Hernández did the dirty work—chasing lost causes, backing into defenders, and bringing midfielders into play. Ruibal’s pressing set the tone on Betis’ right, while Riquelme drew fouls and slowed Alavés’ transitions. Betis didn’t create a flood of chances after the opener, but they managed the scoreboard with patience and a bit of cynicism when it counted.

Alavés will feel this was there for them with a cleaner final ball. Guridi found promising positions, and Mariano’s movement unsettled Betis late on, but composure in the box was missing. Their set pieces had height and intent yet lacked the flat, fast deliveries that punish deep blocks. The late corner at 83 minutes summed it up—pressure without a punch.

Key moments that shaped the match:

• 16’ — Lo Celso pounces on a defensive pause to put Betis ahead.
• 23’ — Guridi breaks through midfield but can’t convert.
• 77’ — Alavés bring on Calebe for urgency; Betis begin to sit deeper.
• 83’ — Alavés force a corner but fail to test López.
• 85’ — D. Gómez replaces Lo Celso as Betis lock down the middle.
• 89’ — L. Pinillos on for A. Blanco; Alavés push but can’t find the target.

On the table, the numbers are tidy for Betis: four points from two games, unbeaten and building layers of reliability. The blueprint here—strike first, manage risk, and defend the area—looked clear and repeatable. Alavés sit on three points after two matches and will take encouragement from their second-half control, even if the finishing touch went missing under pressure.

No fireworks, just a professional job. For Betis, the clean sheet and Lo Celso’s sharpness are early-season positives. For Alavés, there’s structure and effort, but the next step is obvious: turn possession into chances, and chances into goals.