Real Betis moved up to third in LaLiga after Abde Ezzalzouli’s late first-half goal secured a 1-0 victory over Getafe at the Estadio Benito Villamarin.
The result maintained Betis’ strong start to the season, giving them 15 points from six LaLiga matches and a fifth league win. Manuel Pellegrini’s side have now won six of their seven games in all competitions.
Getafe remain on five points and are still looking for their second league victory of the campaign. They arrived in Seville without a win in four matches and had lost all three of their away games this season.
Betis began brightly and nearly took the lead when Getafe gave the ball away. Isco noticed David Soria had moved off his line and attempted a shot from just inside the visitors’ half, but the goalkeeper managed to recover and keep the effort out.
Getafe then threatened when Marc Bernal’s headed back-pass almost presented Ivan Azon with an opportunity. Betis responded as Nemanja Gudelj tested Soria with a 20-yard effort.
Antony was next to go close for the hosts, cutting inside before curling a shot from just inside the penalty area which Soria parried away. Getafe cleared the resulting danger.
The Brazilian came even closer from the next corner. A header fell to Antony on the edge of the box and his half-volley forced Soria into a sharp save, with the goalkeeper tipping the ball on to the post before gathering it.
Betis eventually broke the deadlock in first-half stoppage time. Troy Parrott’s low delivery across the area found Ezzalzouli, who sent a low finish to Soria’s right. The goal survived a lengthy VAR review.
Getafe manager Jose Bordalas made changes at half-time in an attempt to improve his side’s prospects, but Betis created the first opening after the interval. A cross from the left reached captain Isco, who fired wide from 16 yards.
With 15 minutes remaining, Rodrigo Riquelme met a pass inside the area and aimed for the top-right corner. Soria reacted quickly to push the effort away.
Getafe’s hopes of finding an equaliser were further damaged when Mario Martin was sent off for a second yellow card late in the match. The visitors continued to search for a way back into the game but could not break through.
Betis’ victory extended their winning run to four matches in all competitions and kept them among LaLiga’s early front-runners. Their fifth league success lifted them into third place.