Why Real Betis are the NEWCASTLE of Spanish football as they gear up for Chelsea clash in Conference League final
THE REAL DEAL Why Real Betis are the NEWCASTLE of Spanish football as they gear up for Chelsea clash in Conference League final
CHELSEA face Real Betis in the Conference League final.
Spanish football expert Andy West gives the lowdown on the Seville-based club and reveals their similarities to a Premier League side.
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Real Betis have never made it beyond a European quarter-final before
Credit: Reuters
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Former Premier League winner Manuel Pellegrini is their boss
Credit: Reuters
Real Betis are seen as a regional powerhouse, attracting an average attendance of more than 50,000 loyal fans.
They also have a passionate wider fanbase scattered across the country, who display their famous striped shirts as a proud symbol of identity.
But their big-club status has rarely been matched by on-field success, with several stints in the second tier testing the patience of long-suffering supporters.
Yes, there is a strong case for arguing that Betis are Spain's equivalent of Newcastle United.
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And after Toon's trophy drought ended with March's Carabao Cup glory, Betis fans are praying the comparison continues as they seek European silverware in the Conference League final against Enzo Maresca's Chelsea.
The Spanish side are enjoying the most consistently successful spell in their history, qualifying for Europe every season since the 2020 arrival of coach Manuel Pellegrini.
They have also claimed domestic silverware, winning the Copa del Rey in 2022.
But the Blues clash is a first chance at continental glory for a club that had never progressed beyond European quarter-finals until this season.
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CHELSEA VS REAL BETIS - CONFERENCE LEAGUE FINAL STREAM AND TV INFO
On the subject of success, one big difference between Betis and Newcastle is that the former have a major rival in their own city.
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And it is cross-town Sevilla who have hogged the headlines in recent years by winning the Europa League SEVEN times since 2006.
However, Betis are the better supported of the two clubs, as Seville native Javier Gancedo explained: 'Within the city, there's an even split between Betis and Sevilla fans.
'But across the rest of Andalusia, nobody else supports Sevilla because they are the traditional team of the city's ruling class who controlled everything.
'On the other hand, Betis have always been for the working class. And their green and white colours are the same as the Andalusia flag, showing how they represent people from all over the region.'
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Andalusia saw around 1.5 million people emigrate there during the 1950s and 1960s to find work in cities like Madrid and Barcelona.
They took their love for Betis with them.
Andalusia is culturally unique — tapas and flamenco, hot sun and hotter emotions, fed by strong traces of Muslim and Gypsy cultures.
That mix comes together — expressive and creative football is a given, best embodied in the club's greatest ever player, Joaquin.
When he retired two years ago after making 528 appearances, the winger said: 'We Beticos are different. It's a way of life united by passion and love... a completely different way of seeing football.'
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Their fans have a heart-warming Christmas tradition of throwing soft toys on to the pitch at half-time, so they can be collected and donated to local underprivileged children.
Swap the fog on the Tyne for scorching sunshine, and exchange Geordie grit for Spanish flair. But the intensity of support — and the long wait for silverware — is the same.
And if the comparison between Newcastle and Betis continues with a trophy, the celebrations will be just as memorable.
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Ex-Real Madrid man Isco is their key player
Credit: Getty
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