Elche snatch late draw against Betis to get LaLiga campaign off and running

 

Newly-promoted Elche marked their LaLiga return with an impressive 1-1 draw against last season’s UEFA Conference League finalists Real Betis Balompié at the Stadio Martínez Valero. Nonetheless, it is now 52 years since Los Franjiverdes started a top-flight campaign with a victory.

After two years in LaLiga 2, Elche fans marked their return to the top flight with a rousing rendition of their club anthem Aromas Ilicitanos, producing a deafening din before kick-off. 

It proved to be a moment of pride as the size of the task before them was made abundantly clear to Los Franjiverdes, as Betis comfortably controlled the opening 45 minutes. 

Héctor Bellerín’s trickery created the first chance of the game, as he found Aitor Ruibal in the penalty box, but Matías Dituro was a match for the Spaniard’s half-volley.

However, Ruibal opened the scoring midway through the first half, as he raced onto a threaded through ball from Rodrigo Riquelme and rounded the keeper, allowing him to knock the ball into an empty net. 

The hosts were wilting in the baking heat of the Alicante evening, with their best chance coming shortly before half time.

Sheer willpower saw Eder Sarabia keep the ball alive several times after their initial corner was cleared, with the ball eventually finding its way to Léo Pétrot, who dragged his shot wide to spurn the best opportunity to test Pau López.