Competition news
BETIS NEEDS TO WIN ON SUNDAY
11 Oct 2006
Betis has accumulated four defeats in five La Liga games, and the Sevillan club knows that it needs to start gaining points if it wants to avoid last season’s troubles. The best news for them is the return of Assun?§ao, but coach Irureta is facing problems in the attack since Capi and Robert are doubtful for the match.
Marcos Assun?§ao seems to be the key change for Betis for Sunday's match. The Brazilian midfielder has been out since the first match with Valencia for injury reasons, and now he is ready to play because he has overcome his physical problems. Assun?§ao's presence is always noticeable since he has scored four goals against Deportivo in La Liga, most of them from free-kicks. In fact, he scored both goals the last time Betis defeated Deportivo (2-0 in the 2004/2005 season).
Other players who are returning from injuries are Alberto Rivera and Fernando Vega. Both of them trained normally yesterday and could be part of the starting lineup if Irureta brings them back. Meanwhile, midfielder Arz?? and defender David Rivas will be out of Sunday's clash because of injury.
But the real problems for Irureta are in the strike zone. Capi is injured in his left ankle and Robert has back problems. Because of this Jabo is left with Rafael Sob?s as the only alternative against Depor. If Robert or Capi aren't fit for Sunday's game, Sob?s will perform alone and Ed?? will support him by playing as a second striker.
The Brazilian said yesterday that Sunday's game will be an important challenge for his team. "Every match is important, but the one against Depor is fundamental since we are coming in this game after three consecutive defeats. We must win in order to gain confidence, and we also need the points. I am hopeful about the conditions needed to improve our situation."
Ed?? also explained Betis’ problems on the pitch. "We need to create more pressure upfront, because if I start to collect balls in defense, Sob?s could be alone in the attacking zone, and that’s a long distance to the rival's area. We must stay together in defence and also in the striking zone. If not, we will see the same situation as the past season – too much distance between the lines."
Another player who has talked about the match with Depor is Enrique Romero. The Andalucian defender admitted that it will be a special game for him. "I have a heart too and I won't forget what I experienced during my eight years there. But it would be nicer if we could win all three points. Last season the game was finalized in the 93rd minute with a goal scored by Rub?©n Castro after I started the play. Let's hope that this year the situation will be repeated, but in the opposite direction. Although the season is just starting, we need to win points in order to avoid further emergencies."
Javier Irureta will be also in the spotlight. His seven years at Deportivo and his team’s complicated situation are two things to keep in mind, but Jabo seems only to be concentrated on victory. "This game will have plenty of meaning, but that’s not fooling anyone. The important thing is the game itself. We need to achieve two consecutive wins, which will put us in the top spot." Also, Betis' coach isn't worried about the motivation that Caparr??s feels about this confrontation. He knows that coaches don’t participate in matches: "He won't score goals in this game."
Jabo is also convinced that the new Deportivo is completely different from the one he had two years ago. "It's a different squad, I think that there are only two or three players that I knew then: Capdevila, Sergio and Coloccini." The Basque coach isn’t worried about problems in the striking zone either. It seems that he is confident about the presence of Sob?s as the only striker. "I should remind you that Sob?s plays upfront in Brazil's national team," he said.