Betis have become the first team of the 2013-14 season to be relegated from La Liga following Getafe’s 1-0 win over Malaga on Saturday.
The Andalusian club have been shocking this season, sitting on 22 points after 34 games – a far cry from their seventh-place finish a year ago which earned them a spot in the Europa League.
In fact, their surprise run to the quarter-final stage of the second-tier continental competition was the only bright spark in an otherwise fatal string of performances which has ultimately condemned them to spend 2014-15 in the Segunda Division.
Pepe Mel began the season in charge, riding high after the Verdiblancos’ impressive previous 12 months, but he was relieved of his duties in December 2013 as Betis struggled in La Liga.
His replacement, Juan Carlos Garrido, saw no more luck in the Benito Villamarin hot seat, leading to his sacking six weeks after his hiring.
Gabriel Calderon has been in charge since but Betis continued to flail and flounder – their relegation was all-but mathematically certain before Getafe’s win over Malaga this weekend, which leaves the bottom-placed club 13 points from safety with four games to go.
Betis – who have been in the top flight for two years – will host Real Sociedad on Saturday knowing that a win will mean nothing in their now-extinguished relegation fight and will be playing the rest of the season for pride.
Credit: Goal.com