Betis 0-2 Atleti: Baena & Simeone Jr. Shine in Away Triumph.Real Betis 0-2 Atlético Madrid: Player Ratings – Baena & Simeone Jr. Fire Atleti to First Away Win in Five Months.
Estadio La Cartuja, Seville – LaLiga Matchday 11 Atlético Madrid banished their travel sickness with a commanding 2-0 victory over Real Betis, courtesy of a sumptuous Àlex Baena strike and a breathtaking Giuliano Simeone volley. The result – Atleti’s first away win since May – catapults Diego Simeone’s men back into the top four, just one point off the Champions League spots.
Match Summary: A Tale of Two Halves
First Half: Counter-Attacking Masterclass (1-0) Atleti absorbed early Betis pressure before exploding on the break. Giuliano Simeone’s 19th-minute volley – a first-time connection from Baena’s whipped cross – silenced the home crowd. Baena doubled the lead in the 38th minute with a curling 25-yard screamer into the top corner after a mazy dribble past three defenders. Jan Oblak’s acrobatic save denied Isco in the 42nd to preserve the clean sheet.
Second Half: Defensive Resilience (0-0) Betis threw everything forward, but Atleti’s rearguard – marshalled by José María Giménez – stood firm. Oblak’s world-class stops on Lo Celso (68’) and Júnior Firpo (80’) ensured no comeback. Substitutions (Griezmann, Almada, Molina) added freshness, and Atleti saw out six minutes of stoppage time with composure.
Key Stats:
- Possession: Betis 58% – 42% Atleti
- Shots: Betis 14 – 7 Atleti
- xG: Betis 1.68 – 1.92 Atleti
- Big Chances Created: Atleti 3 – Betis 2
- Passes in Final Third: Atleti 74 (86% accuracy)
Atlético Madrid Player Ratings (4-4-2)
Jan Oblak – 7/10
“The Wall is back.” Two vintage saves defined his night:
- 68’ – Diving full-stretch to palm Lo Celso’s curled effort onto the bar.
- 80’ – Reflex stop with his legs to deny Júnior Firpo’s close-range rebound.
Commanded his box with authority, distributed calmly (89% pass accuracy), and made three claims from crosses. A quiet first half, but his second-half heroics were match-defining.
José María Giménez – 7/10
“The General.” Anchored the backline with trademark aggression. Won 6/7 aerial duels, made 4 clearances, and blocked Vitor Roque’s goal-bound effort in the 55th. His leadership ensured Atleti never panicked despite Betis’ second-half siege. Only blemish: a mistimed slide on Isco that earned a yellow (62’).
Marcos Llorente (RB) – 6/10
“Mr. Reliable.” A disciplined shift at right-back. Neutralized Pablo Fornals with 3 tackles and 2 interceptions. His overlapping runs stretched Betis, creating space for Baena’s goal. Subdued going forward (0 key passes), but defensively sound – Lo Celso barely threatened from his flank.
Dávid Hancko (LB) – 7/10
“The Slovak Wall.” A revelation in an unfamiliar left-back role. Comfortable in both defensive and central positions, he won 5 duels, made 3 tackles, and completed 4/5 long balls. His 1v1 defending against Aitor Ruibal was textbook. Cholo may have solved his left-back crisis.
Robin Le Normand (CB) – 6/10
“Solid but Aerially Suspect.” Won 4/6 ground duels and made 2 interceptions, but lost 3/5 aerial battles – including one that led to Betis’ best chance (53’). Distribution tidy (91% accuracy), but needs to dominate headers against physical strikers like Chimy Ávila.
Koke (CM) – 6/10
“The Silent Orchestrator.” Quiet first half (18 touches), but grew into the game. Pivotal in second-half shape: 5 ball recoveries, 2 tackles, and 88% pass accuracy. His experience calmed nerves during Betis’ pressure. Subbed for Thiago Almada (82’) – a luxury substitution that screamed confidence.
Pablo Barrios (CM) – 6/10
“Maturity Beyond Years.” The 20-year-old continues to impress. Covered every blade of grass: 4 tackles, 3 interceptions, and 2 key passes. Forced off with a knock (53’) after a collision with Amrabat – hopefully precautionary. His absence was felt until Almada’s introduction.
Àlex Baena (LM/RM) – 9/10
“The Catalyst.” Man of the Match contender #1. A performance dripping with swagger:
- 38’ Goal – Slalomed past three defenders, curled into the top bin.
- Assist – Whipped cross for Simeone’s volley.
- 4 dribbles completed, 3 key passes, 2 tackles.
Tracked back diligently (won possession in own third twice) and linked play with Griezmann-esque vision. Subbed for Antoine Griezmann (60’) – the ovation said it all.
Giuliano Simeone (LM/RM) – 9/10
“Nepotism? Talent.” Man of the Match. The 22-year-old announced himself with a golazo:
- 19’ – Acrobatic first-time volley from Baena’s cross.
- Relentless work rate: 5 sprints >25 km/h, 3 tackles, 2 duels won.
- 73’ – Blistering run past Amrabat, cut-back nearly scored by Griezmann.
Played both flanks, terrorized Betis full-backs, and tracked back like a veteran. Subbed for Nahuel Molina (82’) to a standing ovation. The future is red-and-white.
Substitutes
Antoine Griezmann (60’ for Baena) – 6/10
Injected calm. 2 key passes, including a clever flick that nearly set up Correa. Held possession in tight spaces.
Thiago Almada (82’ for Koke) – N/A
Too late to rate, but his first touch was a silky turn past two midfielders. A sign of things to come.
Nahuel Molina (82’ for Simeone) – N/A
Shored up the right flank. One crucial interception in stoppage time.
Unused Substitutes
- Ángel Correa
- Samuel Lino
- Rodrigo de Paul
- Clément Lenglet
- Juan Musso (GK)
Real Betis Player Ratings (Snapshot)
| Player | Rating | Key Moment |
|---|---|---|
| Rui Silva (GK) | 5 | Beaten by two wonder strikes |
| Aitor Ruibal | 4 | Torched by Simeone |
| Diego Llorente | 5 | Lost Baena for the second |
| Natan | 6 | Solid but isolated |
| Júnior Firpo | 5 | Denied by Oblak |
| S. Amrabat | 6 | Tenacious but overrun |
| Pablo Fornals | 5 | Anonymous |
| Isco | 6 | Flashes, no end product |
| G. Lo Celso | 6 | Denied by Oblak’s save |
| Vitor Roque | 5 | Isolated |
| Chimy Ávila | 6 | Threatened late |
Tactical Breakdown: Why Atleti Won
1. Counter-Attacking Precision
- Transitions: 7 counters → 4 shots → 2 goals
- Baena + Simeone’s pace exploited Betis’ high line (Amrabat exposed centrally)
2. Defensive Shape
- PPDA: 8.2 (Atleti’s lowest this season)
- Giménez + Hancko won 11/15 duels
- Llorente tucked in to form a 5-4-1 block
3. Set-Piece Threat
- Both goals from open play, but 3/4 corners led to shots
- Le Normand’s near-post run (45+2’) forced a goal-line clearance
What This Means
| For Atlético Madrid | For Real Betis |
|---|---|
| First away win since May 2025 | First home loss in 6 games |
| Back in top 4 (19 pts) | Slip to 7th (16 pts) |
| Baena + Simeone Jr. = new attacking axis | Midfield overwhelmed without Cardoso |
| Oblak’s saves = confidence boost | Rui Silva exposed by long-range shots |
Man of the Match: Giuliano Simeone (9/10)“He’s not here because of his dad. He’s here because he’s THAT good.” – Diego Simeone (post-match)
The volley. The work rate. The fearlessness. Giuliano Simeone delivered a performance that transcended nepotism debates. At 22, he’s ready to be a starter.
Final Thoughts
Atlético Madrid’s 2-0 win wasn’t just three points – it was a statement. A return to Cholo-ball: suffocate, counter, conquer. With Baena pulling strings and Simeone Jr. scoring screamers, the Wanda Metropolitano faithful have reason to believe again.
Next up: Atleti vs Barcelona (Matchday 12). If this is the new normal, the Camp Nou won’t know what hit it.
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