Softfootball understands that Atlético Madrid delivered a ruthless statement performance to dismantle Real Betis 5-0 and book their place in the Copa del Rey semi-finals, scoring three times before the break and extending their unbeaten away run in all competitions to eight matches.
After the game Atletico Madrid shared a post about the result via their official X account.
Betis arrived full of confidence after winning their previous five home games, and they nearly made the perfect start inside six minutes.
Abde Ezzalzouzi controlled a long crossfield pass on his chest before curling an ambitious effort narrowly wide of the far post. It proved to be a warning Atlético heeded quickly.
Diego Simeone’s side struck first in the 12th minute. Koke’s whipped corner found Dávid Hancko at the near post, and the defender powered a header home for his second goal of the season.
Atlético should have doubled their advantage moments later when debutant Ademola Lookman, who recently joined the team from Atlanta, burst clear one-on-one, but he dragged his finish wide.
Betis had their own opportunity midway through the half when Nelson Deossa fired off target from the edge of the area, and that miss was swiftly punished.
Atlético sliced through the hosts down the left, Matteo Ruggeri’s low cutback allowing Giuliano Simeone, who recently extended his contract at the club until 2030, to tap home his second goal at this ground this season.
Lookman soon made amends for his earlier miss. Eight minutes before half-time, he shifted Pablo Barrios’ pass onto his right foot, darted inside two defenders and squeezed a low shot past Adrián to cap a lightning counter-attack and effectively put the tie beyond Betis before the interval.
The fourth arrived just after the hour mark. Lookman turned provider this time, releasing Antoine Griezmann, whose strike slipped through Adrián’s hands for his fourth Copa del Rey goal of the campaign.
The club shared a video of Griezmann celebrating his goal via their official X account.
Watch the video below:
With the contest settled, Simeone rotated his squad, but the changes did little to ease Betis’ misery. Substitute Thiago Almada reacted quickest to Adrián’s save from Griezmann to tuck home a fifth seven minutes from time and complete a comprehensive rout.
The result marked Atlético’s 11th win in their last 14 meetings with Betis and inflicted only a fourth home defeat of the season on Manuel Pellegrini’s men. There is little time for recovery either, with Betis set to face their cup conquerors again in LaLiga this weekend, hoping for a far better result.
