After the match with Real Sociedad, Valencia had dropped points and was, therefore, tied on points with Girona with nineteen each, with Valencia ultimately being first because of the Goal difference.
[In Laliga, they use head-to-head if you are tied on points to determine the standings. But if you havenât played against each other, theyâll then use Goal difference]
Real Madrid followed behind with eighteen points in the 3rd position. The Los Blancos had bounced back with 2 wins after their loss to Atlético Madrid.
Following behind the team from the Spanish capital was Barcelona from Catalonia. They had drawn against Mallorca and were now 4th with seventeen points.
Athletic Bilbao were 5th with fourteen points after 7 matchdays. Ending the top 6 were Atlético Madrid who had won their game after losing to Valencia.
Izan led the top scorers list with 7 goals after 7 matchdays. This was part of the reason many clubs wanted him.
He only needed 11 chances to score these 7 goals. His conversion rate was close to that of a world-class striker in his prime, and he wasnât even playing as a striker.
He had done all this while playing as an attacking midfielder and as a winger on some occasions. And as a bonus, he was still a minor.
His talent and ability were becoming terrifying and he was only going to improve further. Real Madridâs new talisman, Jude Bellingham was second with 5 goals.
He was off to a blazing start in Laliga. His hype had even overshadowed Izanâs as the English media continued recycling news about the latterâs achievements in the new league.
Fellow Spaniard, Alvaro Morata also had five goal and 4th on the list was Robert Lewandowski also with 5 goals.
Last in the top 5 with 4 goals was Ghanaian player, Inaki Williams. The teams were getting into their strides, and the next matchday to come could prove exciting as Real Madrid would be facing second-place Girona, with Barcelona also facing Sevilla.
Atlético Madrid could take advantage to narrow the points as they would be facing Cadiz with Valencia also facing Real Betis. This tie was the most balanced.
Both teams were equally impressive on Paper but Valencia had form going into this match so the betting companies had already begun tipping the odds in Valenciaâs favour.
Izan went through the week, juggling studies and training together. He had told Baraja that he was okay but the latter still insisted that he start from the bench.
Izam wasnât satisfied but he also understood the coachâs concern. He didnât want him to get injured. Since players would be tired in the second half, it was the best time to bring Izan on so that he could at least avoid the first halfâs intensity.
Izan also understood that he was getting impatient as most players at his age were not playing. "I have to be thankful that heâs playing me from time to time,", Izan thought, getting his thoughts straight.
Izan continued to improve and impress in training. Baraja, seeing Izanâs displays in training, wished that he could make Izan age at least a year or two.
Izan kept performing in training. He would also watch a few matches with his family on Champions League nights.
Izan longed for the day he would be able to play Champions League football, and he knew that day wasnât very far off.
If Valenciaâs form could continue, qualifying for next yearâs Champions League wouldnât be hard. "Well, letâs hope no injury crisis affects the team since we wonât be playing as many matches as the top teams", Izan thought.
Thursday passed and Friday night quickly approached as the Valencia team ended their light training session.
The team staff had already begun preparing for the match the next day, as tomorrow could be decisive in helping their team go at least one point clear of Girona if they lost to Madrid.
Yes to the staff, no matter how good Girona were playing, Real Madrid would win. "Letâs hope we donât concede much when we meet the bigger teams later on", one of the staff members uttered with a frown.
"Donât jinx it. We arenât even there yet." a burly man said while carrying some bags. Valencia would be playing away so the staff hurried their actions, getting ready for the trip tomorrow.
....
The Estadio Benito Villamarin was buzzing with a pre-match atmosphere. Fans laughing with one another as the kickoff approached.
Stalls, selling jerseys were set up. Food stalls were also set up with both the home and visiting fans enjoying the delicacies around.
The sunset over the historic city of Seville.
Outside, a sea of supporters donning the bold orange of Valencia and the green and white of Real Betis poured into the stands, their chants creating an electric pre-match atmosphere.
Inside, the pitch looks immaculate, its pristine condition a testament to the importance of tonightâs match.
The cheering in the stadium rose as the players from both sides stepped onto the pitch for their warm-ups.
The shouts of the Betis fans were deafening but the visiting fans werenât outdone as they also stepped up with their chants.
Both fans competed with their chants and shouts even before the match began.
The players completed their final warm-ups, their faces betraying a mix of calm professionalism and bubbling adrenaline.
The air was thick with anticipation as fans settled in, their voices merging into a deafening chorus of support.
Izan walked to the bench with the rest of the substitutes, waving at a few fans who called his name on the way.
The Valencia fans already considered him their talisman even at such a young age.
A few fans flooded the clubâs website the previous day with comments about how the team could have won if Izan played in the match against Real Sociedad.
The number of comments kept increasing until a statement was issued by the club explaining why he wasnât playing too many games recently.
The noise died down after the statement was issued by the club after the fans understood their intention.
After a while, the commentatorâs voice cut through the pre-game noise:
"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to matchday action here in Seville! Tonight, two of La Ligaâs most passionate sides, Valencia and Real Betis, go head-to-head in what promises to be a tactical and emotional showdown.
Valencia, eager to keep their place in the top spot in the table, faces a Betis side looking to prove their mettle on hostile territory. Expect flair, resilience, and a touch of magic under the lights!"
After the commentator was done. The announcer took over, mentioning the names involved in this match as both sides stepped out of the tunnel.
The pre-match pleasantries were quickly done with after a while with Hugo Duro standing over the ball.
After looking at his watch for a while, the referee blew his whistle.
The game kicked off with a roar from the crowd, the ball zipping across the field as both teams began their pursuit of victory.
The first half of the clash between Real Betis and Valencia at the Estadio Benito VillamarĂn delivered an enthralling mix of tactical discipline, swift transitions, and moments of individual brilliance.
Both sides, buoyed by recent performances, looked to impose their styles early on, leading to an engaging 45 minutes that kept fans on the edge of their seats.
From the first whistle, Real Betis signalled their intent to dominate possession. Under the guidance of their manager, Betis adopted a fluid 4-2-3-1 formation, with the ever-reliable Guido RodrĂguez anchoring the midfield and orchestrating play.
Valencia, on the other hand, set up in a compact 4-4-2, emphasizing defensive solidity while looking to exploit Betisâ high defensive line with quick counterattacks.
The initial minutes were marked by Betis probing for openings. Ayoze PĂ©rez and Ezzazouli combined effectively on the wings, frequently testing Valenciaâs full-backs.
However, the visitorsâ defence, marshalled by Cenk Ozkacar, stood firm, denying Betis any clear-cut chances.
Valencia, meanwhile, relied on long balls to stretch the Betis backline, with Hugo Duro and Diego LĂłpez chasing down every opportunity.
As the game progressed, Real Betis began to find rhythm. Their midfield trio of RodrĂguez, William Carvalho, and Isco started dictating the tempo, threading intricate passes through Valenciaâs lines.
In the 15th minute, Isco showcased his creativity with a deft through ball that split the defence, finding Borja Iglesias inside the box.
Iglesiasâ shot was well-struck, but Valencia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili made a stunning save, diving low to his right to keep the scores level.
The home sideâs pressure mounted, and their wide play became increasingly dangerous. Luiz Henrique, in particular, tormented Valenciaâs left-back JosĂ© GayĂ with his pace and trickery.
In the 23rd minute, Ezzalzouli whipped in a tantalizing cross that narrowly missed the outstretched leg of Iglesias, much to the relief of the visiting defence.
Despite Betisâ dominance in possession, Valencia showed flashes of attacking threat on the break. The young Javi Guerra was pivotal in turning defence into attack, breaking forward with pace and precision.
In the 28th minute, Guerra surged past Carvalho and slid a perfectly weighted pass to LĂłpez. The forwardâs low shot from the edge of the box forced a full-stretch save from Betis keeper Rui Silva, drawing applause from the travelling supporters.
Valencia grew in confidence as the half progressed, with Thierry Correia pushing forward from right-back to support the attack.
In the 33rd minute, Valencia came close to opening the scoring when GayĂ delivered a dangerous corner that found Pietro who had started this match at the far post.
His header, however, sailed just over the crossbar, much to the disappointment of the visitors.
The latter stages of the first half were characterized by fierce midfield duels. RodrĂguez and Carvalho worked tirelessly to regain control, while Guerra and Pepelu for Valencia were relentless in breaking up Betisâ attacks.
This midfield tussle resulted in several turnovers, disrupting the flow of the game.
Both managers made subtle adjustments as they sought to gain the upper hand. Ruben Baraja instructed his team to press higher up the pitch, forcing Betis into hurried passes.
This strategy nearly paid dividends in the 38th minute when a misplaced pass from RodrĂguez gifted possession to Duro, who unleashed a curling effort that Silva parried away.
As the half drew to a close, Betis ramped up their efforts to find a breakthrough. Ayoze PĂ©rez came closest in the 43rd minute when he danced past two defenders and unleashed a powerful shot from 20 yards out.
Mamardashvili, however, was once again up to the task, tipping the ball over the bar to deny what looked like a certain goal.
Valencia had one final chance in stoppage time. A swift counterattack saw LĂłpez break free on the left flank. His low cross found Duro unmarked in the box, but the strikerâs first-time shot flew agonizingly wide, leaving the scoreline unchanged as the referee blew for halftime.
The first half ended goalless but was anything but dull. Real Betis dominated possession and created more chances, with Isco and Ezzalzouli shining as their creative sparks.
Valencia, though under pressure for large spells, showcased resilience and posed a genuine threat on the counterattack. The battle between the two midfields was fierce, and both goalkeepers had moments of brilliance to keep their sides in contention.
As the teams headed into the dressing rooms, it was clear that the second half promised even more drama.
Real Betis would need to capitalize on their dominance, while Valencia could look to their counterattacking prowess to tilt the balance in their favour.
The stage was set for a thrilling conclusion to an evenly contested encounter.
A/n: okay guys so I met the Christmas spirit this afternoon because of a business deal and Iâm feeling generous so have this chapter. Have fun reading and donât forget to subscribe, like and share.