http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Pepe-c29670 Mel’s charges go into the international break with an impressive 2-0 victory over Real Sociedad at the Benito Villamarin, enjoying their best start to league campaign in a decade.
Los Verdiblancos faithful witnessed their side overcome Philippe Montanier’s resilient Real Sociedad outfit at the Benito Villamarin. Real Betis moved inside La Liga top-4 as Spanish top flight football took a break from regular footballing activities, their
best start to domestic campaign in a decade.
Betis have been given a respite of the next two weeks as they continue in UEFA Champions League qualifying positions before their trip to Reyno de Navarra. Their reality and their objectives are quite contrary to their disconcerting start, Betis are at their
highest position in La Liga campaign after seven match days in the last 11 years.
Last year, at this point, Betis had accumulated the same number of points in the table, but were down to seventh place. Their downward spiral after an unbeaten run of four straight victories had started, that would not end until December
Taking a look further back, between the 2004/05 season and 08/09, they have passed this same stretch always moving between the twelfth and eighteenth positions. Additionally, the efforts from the locker room could only muster between four to nine points. The
105 years old club were seventh during the 2003/04 campaign, with two fewer points than their current tally.
Going back to the 2001/02 campaign, reminds Verdiblancos of their days with Juande Ramos in charge. The witty tactician stormed to 16 points from the available 21, with the season ultimately ending in Real Betis finishing in sixth place, eligible for European
competition.
With their heroics in days gone by standing as footnotes in the current troubling times, the current squad is distinctly different from their predecessors. Fortunately, in Betis dressing room modesty and humility prevails. Everyone keeps their feet on the
ground and is not looking beyond the next game.
They have come to understand their strengths are fully aware of the fact that they can cause an upset. An improvement on their 13th place finish in the penultimate season would be welcomed as La Liga safety remains the prime concern for Los Verdiblancos.
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