Álvaro Fidalgo’s Debut Victory with Real Betis in LaLiga

Álvaro Fidalgo, the sole winter signing for Real Betis, experienced a momentous day today. He redeemed himself following last Thursday’s loss in the Copa del Rey, where he made his debut as a Verdiblanco. Additionally, he celebrated his first win in LaLiga, a milestone achieved at the age of 28 after spending five seasons in Mexico. He started prominently against Atlético Madrid, delivering an impressive performance in the midfield under Pellegrini’s management.

The Asturian midfielder showcased excellent synergy with teammates Fornals, Marc Roca, Abde, and Antony, establishing a connection with Bakambu and fluidly navigating across the offensive front. Fidalgo consistently provided passing options to his colleagues through dynamic and effective gameplay. Furthermore, he contributed defensively, aiding Betis in overcoming their Copa elimination by securing a victory at the Metropolitano.

On reflecting the triumph, he expressed, “I am very happy about the victory and my debut in LaLiga. It has been a long journey to fulfill this dream. Today’s match was fantastic, especially after Thursday’s setback, and it’s a moment for us to feel proud; the fans are delighted today.”

Regarding the intense week, he remarked, “I literally just got off the plane on Tuesday. It was a very quick week. Thursday’s match was one of Atlético’s best in recent times, while we performed poorly. Nothing went right, and the result was harsh. We had home matches in the Copa and the final at La Cartuja to prepare for. It was difficult, requiring significant corrections and changes, which we addressed leading up to today’s result.”

When asked about what they needed to correct, he stated, “In the previous match, we pressed high, and for the first 15 minutes, it worked well. However, when we pressed, Atlético exploited easy passing sequences between Barrios, Koke, Baena, and Griezmann, effectively finding Lookman in space. Today, we focused on disrupting those connections, tightening our formation to make it harder for them. Once we accomplished that, they opted for wide play, and we defended lateral crosses well, which was crucial to our success.”

As for his contribution to Betis, Fidalgo said, “I am a player who enjoys having the ball and is committed defensively. I aim to grow steadily. Today is a significant day for me, and I am very pleased with the team’s victory and my LaLiga debut. At 28, it’s never too late to achieve my goals. I will strive to contribute as much as possible and hopefully bring joy to the Betis fans for many years to come.”