New faces in La Liga (I): Real Betis

New faces in La Liga (I): Real Betis

Having won the Second Division, The Grean-and-Whites are back in the top domestic competition after a one-year absence

Of the three teams promoted to the First Division for the 2015/16 season, the first to get the job done was Real Betis. The Green-and-Whites were champions with a two-point cushion over second-place Sporting Gijón. Their return to the First Division was mathematically guaranteed on the penultimate match day after having spent just one season in the Second Division.

Despite gaining promotion, it was a tough season for Betis, which found itself buried in the standings back in November before head coach Julio Velázquez was fired and the board of director resigned. Thereafter, with the return of Pepe Mel to the bench, the team went on a spectacular run. Rubén Castro was the hero, leading the competition with 32 goals.

Precedents

Betis and FC Barcelona have played 98 times in the Spanish First Division, with 58 wins for the Blaugrana, 20 draws, and 20 victories for the Big Greens. The last Barça–Betis game came on the day the Club members voted in a referendum on the future of the new Espai Barça. On the field, the Catalans won 3–1 with two goals from Messi and an own goal.

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Força Barça

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