1997–98 Real Betis season

Real Betis Balompíé 1997–98 football season

Real Betis Balompíé

1997–98 season

President

Manuel Ruiz de Lopera

Manager

Luis Aragonés

Stadium

Benito Villamarin

La Liga

8th (in UEFA Cup)

Copa del Rey

Quarterfinals

UEFA Cup Winners' Cup

Quarterfinals

Top goalscorer

League: Alfonso (10)
All: Alfonso (15)

Home colours

Away colours

← 1996–97

1998–99 →

During the 1997–98 season, Betis competed in La Liga, Copa del Rey and UEFA Cup Winners' Cup.

Summary

In the summertime Llorenc Serra Ferrer left the club and signed with FC Barcelona^[1] prompting President Manuel Ruiz de Lopera to hire Luis Aragonés as its new manager.^[2] The club transferred in several players such as centre back Roberto Solozabal from Atlético Madrid,^[3] right back Jorge Otero from Valencia CF, midfielder Fernando from Real Valladolid, forward Oli from Real Oviedo^[4] and after a two-year stint in FC Barcelona striker Ángel Cuéllar got back to the squad.^[5]

The team finished in a disappointing 8th place in La Liga and reached barely the classification for the UEFA Cup next season. Meanwhile, the squad was eliminated in Copa del Rey Quarterfinals by Real Zaragoza and defeated in two legs by Chelsea F.C. in UEFA Cup Winners' Cup Quarterfinals stage.

Squad

Squad at end of season^[6]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
1	GK	ESP	Toni Prats
2	DF	ESP	Jaime
3	DF	ESP	Luis Fernández
4	DF	ESP	Juan Antonio Ureña
5	DF	ESP	Josete
6	DF	ESP	Juan Merino
7	MF	ESP	Alexis Trujillo
8	MF	ESP	Luis Márquez
9	FW	ESP	Oli
10	MF	ESP	Juan Cañas
11	FW	ESP	Alfonso
12	DF	YUG	Albert Nađ


No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
13	GK	ESP	Valerio
14	DF	ESP	Jorge Otero
17	DF	CRO	Robert Jarni
19	DF	ESP	Roberto Solozabal
20	DF	ESP	Tomás Olías
21	DF	BIH	Risto Vidaković
22	MF	ESP	Fernando
23	FW	ESP	Ángel Cuéllar
24	FW	ESP	Ivan Perez
25	MF	NGA	Finidi George
29	GK	ESP	José Manuel Pinto

Transfers

In
Pos.	Name	from	Type
DF	Roberto Solozabal	Atlético Madrid
DF	Jorge Otero	Valencia CF
MF	Fernando	Real Valladolid
FW	Oli	Real Oviedo
GK	Valerio	Albacete Balompié
GK	Pinto	Betis B
FW	Ángel Cuéllar	FC Barcelona
FW	Ivan Perez	Extremadura CF

Out
Pos.	Name	To	Type
DF	Roberto Ríos	Athletic Bilbao
FW	Pier	Real Zaragoza
GK	Pedro Jaro	Atlético Madrid
DF	Fernando Varela	Betis B
MF	Capi	Betis B
DF	Juan Redondo	Hércules CF
FW	Wojciech Kowalczyk	UD Las Palmas
MF	Nenad Bjelica	UD Las Palmas
FW	Juan Sabas	CP Mérida

Competitions

La Liga

League table

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification or relegation
6	Celta de Vigo	38	17	9	12	54	47	+7	60^[a]	Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round
7	Atlético Madrid	38	16	12	10	79	56	+23	60^[a]
8	Betis	38	17	8	13	49	50	−1	59
9	Valencia	38	16	7	15	58	52	+6	55	Qualification for the Intertoto Cup third round
10	Espanyol	38	12	17	9	44	31	+13	53	Qualification for the Intertoto Cup second round

Source: LFP
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) head-to-head goals scored; 5) goal difference; 6) number of goals scored.
Notes:

^ ^a ^b MLL: 9 pts; CEL: 5 pts; ATM: 2 pts

Results by round

Source: Competitive matches
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss; = Leader, 1998–99 UEFA Champions League Group stage; = 1998–99 UEFA Champions League Second qualifying round; = 1998–99 UEFA Cup First round; = Qualification for the Intertoto Cup third round; = Qualification for the Intertoto Cup second round; = 1998–99 Segunda División

Matches

Real Valladolid v Real Betis

1 September 1997 1	Real Valladolid	1-3	Real Betis	Valladolid
		Report		Stadium: Jose Zorrilla

Real Betis v Athletic Bilbao

6 September 1997 2	Real Betis	1-1	Athletic Bilbao	Sevilla
		Report		Stadium: Benito Villamarin

Celta v Real Betis

14 September 1997 3	Celta	2-0	Real Betis	Vigo
				Stadium: Balaídos

Real Betis v Real Oviedo

28 September 1997 4	Real Betis	1-1	Real Oviedo	Sevilla
				Stadium: Benito Villamarin

CP Mérida v Real Betis

6 October 1997 5

CP Mérida

1-3

Real Betis

Mérida

Real Betis v Real Zaragoza

15 October 1997 6	Real Betis	3-3	Real Zaragoza	Sevilla
		Report		Stadium: Benito Villamarin

RCD Espanyol v Real Betis

19 October 1997 7	RCD Espanyol	5-0	Real Betis	Barcelona
		Report

Real Betis v SD Compostela

26 October 1997 8	Real Betis	1-0	SD Compostela	Sevilla
		Report		Stadium: Benito Villamarin

Real Betis v Atlético Madrid

1 November 1997 9	Real Betis	2-3	Atlético Madrid	Sevilla
				Stadium: Benito Villamarin

UD Salamanca v Real Betis

9 November 1997 10

UD Salamanca

0-0

Real Betis

Salamanca

Real Betis v Real Sociedad

12 November 1997 11	Real Betis	0-0	Real Sociedad	Sevilla
		Report		Stadium: Benito Villamarin

Valencia CF v Real Betis

16 November 1997 12	Valencia CF	1-0	Real Betis	Valencia
		Report

Real Betis v Deportivo La Coruña

23 November 1997 13	Real Betis	1-0	Deportivo La Coruña	Sevilla
		Report		Stadium: Benito Villamarin

Sporting Gijón v Real Betis

29 November 1997 14	Sporting Gijón	2-3	Real Betis	Gijón
		Report

Real Betis v CD Tenerife

7 December 1997 15	Real Betis	3-0	CD Tenerife	Sevilla
		Report		Stadium: Benito Villamarin

RCD Mallorca v Real Betis

13 December 1997 16

RCD Mallorca

1-2

Real Betis

Palma de Mallorca

Racing Santander v Real Betis

21 December 1997 18	Racing Santander	2-0	Real Betis	Santander
		Report		Stadium: El Sardinero

Real Betis v Real Madrid

3 January 1998 19	Real Betis	3-2	Real Madrid	Sevilla
		Report		Stadium: Benito Villamarin

Athletic Bilbao v Real Betis

18 January 1998 20	Athletic Bilbao	0-0	Real Betis	Bilbao
		Report		Stadium: San Mames

Real Betis v Celta de Vigo

25 January 1998 21	Real Betis	2-0	Celta de Vigo	Sevilla
		Report		Stadium: Benito Villamarin

Real Oviedo v Real Betis

31 January 1998 23	Real Oviedo	0-0	Real Betis	Oviedo
		Report		Stadium: Carlos Tartiere

Real Betis v CP Mérida

8 February 1998 24	Real Betis	2-1	CP Mérida	Sevilla
		Report		Stadium: Benito Villamarin

Real Zaragoza v Real Betis

15 February 1998 25	Real Zaragoza	3-1	Real Betis	Zaragoza
		Report		Stadium: La Romareda

Real Betis v RCD Espanyol

22 February 1998 26	Real Betis	1-3	RCD Espanyol	Sevilla
				Stadium: Benito Villamarin

Real Betis v Real Valladolid

25 February 1998 20	Real Betis	3-0	Real Valladolid	Sevilla
		Report		Stadium: Benito Villamarin

SD Compostela v Real Betis

28 February 1998 27

SD Compostela

2-3

Real Betis

Santiago de Compostela

Atlético Madrid v Real Betis

8 March 1998 28	Atlético Madrid	0-0	Real Betis	Madrid
		Report		Stadium: Vicente Calderón

Real Betis v UD Salamanca

15 March 1998 29	Real Betis	2-1	UD Salamanca	Sevilla
		Report		Stadium: Benito Villamarin

Real Sociedad v Real Betis

22 March 1998 30	Real Sociedad	2-0	Real Betis	San Sebastián, Spain
		Report		Stadium: Anoeta

Real Betis v Valencia CF

28 March 1998 31	Real Betis	1-0	Valencia CF	Sevilla
		Report		Stadium: Benito Villamarin

Deportivo La Coruña v Real Betis

4 April 1998 32	Deportivo La Coruña	2-0	Real Betis	La Coruña
		Report		Stadium: Riazor

Real Betis v FC Barcelona

7 April 1998 17	Real Betis	0-2	FC Barcelona	Sevilla
		Report		Stadium: Benito Villamarin

Real Betis v Sporting Gijón

13 April 1998 33	Real Betis	2-1	Sporting Gijón	Sevilla
		Report		Stadium: Benito Villamarin

CD Tenerife v Real Betis

19 April 1998 34	CD Tenerife	3-1	Real Betis	Santa Cruz de Tenerife
		Report

Real Betis v RCD Mallorca

25 April 1998 35	Real Betis	2-1	RCD Mallorca	Sevilla
		Report		Stadium: Benito Villamarin

FC Barcelona v Real Betis

3 May 1998 36	FC Barcelona	1-3	Real Betis	Barcelona
		Report		Stadium: Camp Nou

Real Betis v Racing Santander

10 May 1998 37	Real Betis	0-2	Racing Santander	Sevilla
		Report		Stadium: Benito Villamarin

Real Madrid v Real Betis

15 May 1998 38	Real Madrid	1-0	Real Betis	Madrid
		Report		Stadium: Santiago Bernabéu

Copa del Rey

Eightfinals

Real Sociedad v Real Betis

14 January 1998	Real Sociedad	0-2	Real Betis	San Sebastián
		Report		Stadium: Anoeta

Real Betis v Real Sociedad

21 January 1998

Real Betis

1-1

Real Sociedad

Sevilla

Quarterfinals

Real Zaragoza v Real Betis

4 February 1998	Real Zaragoza	3-0	Real Betis
		Report

Real Betis v Zaragoza

12 February 1998	Real Betis	2–2 (2-5 agg.)	Zaragoza	Sevilla
21:30 CET	Alfonso 43' Finidi 64'	Report (in Spanish)	Jamelli 15' Pier 17'	Stadium: Benito Villamarín Attendance: 30,000 Referee: Fernández Marín

UEFA Cup Winners' Cup

First round

Real Betis

BVSC Budapest

18 September 1997 1	Real Betis	2-0	BVSC Budapest	Sevilla
				Stadium: Benito Villamarin

BVSC Budapest

Real Betis

2 October 1997 2

BVSC Budapest

0-2

Real Betis

Budapest

Eightfinals

Real Betis

København

23 October 1997 1	Real Betis	2-0	København	Sevilla
				Stadium: Benito Villamarin

København

Real Betis

6 November 1997 2

København

1-1

Real Betis

Quarterfinals

Real Betis

Chelsea

5 March 1998	Real Betis	1–2	Chelsea	Sevilla
20:45	Alfonso 46'	Lineups	Flo 7', 12'	Stadium: Estadio Benito Villamarín Attendance: 31,000 Referee: Atanas Uzunov

Chelsea

Real Betis

19 March 1998	Chelsea	3–1 (5-2 agg.)	Real Betis	London
19:45	Sinclair 30' Di Matteo 50' Zola 90'	Lineups	Finidi 20'	Stadium: Stamford Bridge Attendance: 32,300 Referee: Bernd Heynemann

Statistics

Players statistics

No.	Pos	Nat	Player	Total		La Liga		Copa del Rey		Cup Winners' Cup
No.	Pos	Nat	Player	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
1	GK	ESP	Prats	45	-55	36	-44	3	-5	6	-6
6	DF	ESP	Merino	38	0	28+2	0	1+2	0	5	0
20	DF	ESP	Olias	32	1	26	1	3	0	3	0
19	DF	ESP	Solozabal	35	0	24+2	0	4	0	5	0
17	DF	CRO	Jarni	37	6	28	6	3	0	6	0
7	MF	ESP	Alexis	42	5	31+1	4	4	0	6	1
22	MF	ESP	Fernando	38	2	22+9	2	1+2	0	4	0
10	MF	ESP	Cañas	35	3	19+8	2	3	0	4+1	1
25	FW	NGA	Finidi	43	12	34	9	4	2	5	1
9	FW	ESP	Oli	45	11	29+6	9	4	1	4+2	1
11	FW	ESP	Alfonso	41	15	30+1	10	4	1	6	4
13	GK	ESP	Valerio	4	-5	2+1	-4	1	-1
12	DF	SRB	Nadj	31	1	17+8	1	2+1	0	1+2	0
14	DF	ESP	Otero	25	0	19+3	0	1	0	2	0
21	DF	BIH	Vidakovic	25	2	19	2	2	0	4	0
8	MF	ESP	Márquez	27	1	12+11	1	1+1	0	1+1	0
29	GK	ESP	Pinto	1	-2	0+1	-2	0	0
2	DF	ESP	Jaime	23	0	15+4	0	2	0	0+2	0
3	DF	ESP	Fernández	17	0	6+7	0	0	0	1+3	0
4	DF	ESP	Ureña	19	1	10+5	0	1+1	0	2	1
5	DF	ESP	Josete	3	0	1+1	0	0	0	1	0
23	FW	ESP	Cuéllar	20	1	9+10	1	0	0	0+1	0
24	FW	ESP	Pérez	22	1	1+16	0	0+3	1	0+2	0
18	MF	CRO	Bjelica	5	0	0+3	0	0	0	0+2	0
19	FW	ESP	Sabas

Source: https://www.bdfutbol.com/en/t/t1997-988.html

References

^ Domènech, Joan (29 June 1997). "Barça de titanes" [Titanic Barça]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 11 August 2016.
^ "Luis Aragones dies: Former Spain coach passes away aged 75". The Independent. 1 February 2014. Archived from the original on 2022-05-01. Retrieved 2 February 2014.
^ Solozábal ya es futbolista del Betis (Solozábal is already a Betis footballer); El País, 23 July 1997 (in Spanish)
^ Pesadilla Oli (Oli nightmare); Mundo Deportivo, 11 November 1996 (in Spanish)
^ Cuéllar será baja durante cinco meses (Cuéllar out of action for five months); El País, 5 September 1995 (in Spanish)
^ "FootballSquads - Betis - 1996/97".

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Club seasons
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