Real Betis Fightback Sends Villarreal Into La Liga Relegation Zone
Villarreal’s difficult start to the La Liga season deepened with a 2-1 home defeat to Real Betis on Monday, leaving the club in the relegation zone after five rounds.
Gerard Moreno gave Villarreal the advantage in the 29th minute at Estadio de la Cerámica, but Betis struck twice before half-time. Cucho Hernández levelled before Natan completed the turnaround, condemning the hosts to a third league loss.
Quick facts
- Villarreal lost 2-1 to Real Betis in their matchday-five fixture.
- Gerard Moreno opened the scoring after 29 minutes.
- Cucho Hernández and Natan scored in quick succession before the interval.
- Villarreal have two points, sit 18th and have conceded 10 goals in five league games.
- The 10 goals conceded equal the club’s poorest defensive opening to a season, also seen in 2023-24.
- Next up is Thursday’s away match against Malaga, followed by Levante at home three days later.
Head coach Perez said the manner of the reversal was particularly troubling, pointing to a loss of belief once Betis had equalised. He said the match had developed as Villarreal intended until that goal, before a repeat of the reaction seen against Depor.
Perez described the second half as damaging both to the squad and to himself, saying it had affected confidence and self-belief. He accepted that defeats are difficult to overcome, but said the feeling left by this one made the task still harder.
The Navarrese coach insisted Villarreal must respond immediately, with the staff set to review the performance in detail. “We are not giving the supporters what we want to give them, or what they deserve,” he said, adding that the group would need to recover its energy, study the game and work towards the required standard.
Perez maintained that the team’s intended approach remains clear and has appeared in parts of several matches. However, he said a close examination was needed to identify the changes required to emerge from the current run.
The pressure is heightened by Villarreal’s standing last season, when Marcelino led the club to third place and Champions League qualification. With a trip to Malaga on Thursday and Levante due at Estadio de la Cerámica three days later, Perez’s side have little time to improve their defensive reliability before the international break.
