Real Betis secured a vital 3-1 victory over Rayo Vallecano on Monday night, which gave them some breathing room in the Europa League places, but the main talking point was undoubtedly Youssouf Sabaly’s stuning strike.
In just the fifth minute, Sabaly unleashed a howitzer with his ‘wrong’ foot, bursting the net.
Sabaly with a ROCKET! 🚀
Real Betis lead as the Senegalese defender fires into the back of the net from outside the box 🤯#LaLigaSantander pic.twitter.com/m7GMaiyx7a
— Viaplay Sports UK (@ViaplaySportsUK) May 15, 2023
Le pegó con el corazón de todos los aficionados del Benito Villamarín 💥
El zurdazo de Youssouf Sabaly a la escuadra ES UNA OBRA DE ARTE 🎯🔥@RealBetis #LaLigaEnDAZN ⚽ pic.twitter.com/cnvaSSVvFO
— DAZN España (@DAZN_ES) May 15, 2023
PSA: Watch Youssouf Sabaly's goal last night. Weaker foot too, mind.#RealBetis pic.twitter.com/EzzVVabCNz
— Football España (@footballespana_) May 16, 2023
The French defender is not known for his for goalscoring touch, nor his touch with his left foot, but was the story of the night at the Benito Villamarin.
Ayoze Perez doubled their lead just before half-time, but Rayo fought back and a Fran Garcia-assisted header from Santi Comesana made the game tight until the closing minutes. Enter Joaquin, who assisted Borja Iglesias for a late goal to seal a 3-1 win.
That appearance keeps Joaquin’s hopes of equalling Andoni Zubizarreta’s record for La Liga appearances, currently at 621, alive. He must play in their remaining five matches in order to do so.
For Betis, it leaves them two points off Villarreal in fifth, and seven points from Girona in seventh. Had they been beaten by Rayo, that gap would have been cut to just two by Los Franjirrojos themselves, who missed the chance to leapfrog Girona into the final European spot.
🗣️ "Increíble, hay que escucharlo y disfrutarlo"
🙌🏻 @Guido_Rodriguez se rinde al ambiente del Benito Villamarín en el micrófono de #DAZN con @ainhooaperez27 #LaLigaEnDAZN ⚽ pic.twitter.com/zZhL7D5vJa
— DAZN España (@DAZN_ES) May 15, 2023
