Lo Celso breaks drought but admits Betis left with 'bitter taste' after Oviedo draw
Argentine midfielder Giovani Lo Celso netted his first LaLiga goal in nearly five months but couldn't hide his disappointment as Betis dropped points against bottom club Oviedo.
The Verdiblancos were banking on Giovani Lo Celso stepping up in Isco’s absence, and the Argentine finally delivered with a crucial header to rescue a point against LaLiga’s basement boys Oviedo.
Missed opportunities haunt Betis
Despite breaking his personal goal drought that stretched back nearly five months, Lo Celso cut a frustrated figure in the mixed zone at the Carlos Tartiere Stadium.
“We’re left with a bitter taste because we’ve let two points slip away,” the midfielder confessed post-match, highlighting Betis’ wastefulness in front of goal, particularly during a dominant first half display where they created numerous chances but failed to capitalise.
The Argentine’s header marked only his second LaLiga goal this campaign, arriving just when his team needed it most after Oviedo had taken a surprise lead, making the mountain even steeper to climb.
Jekyll and Hyde finishing
Lo Celso pointed to the stark contrast between Betis’ clinical performance against Getafe and their profligacy in Oviedo:
“We created many chances that we couldn’t convert. Against Getafe they all went in, but not today.”
This inconsistency in front of goal has become a recurring theme for Manuel Pellegrini’s side, particularly when facing teams in the relegation zone – something that’s beginning to cost them valuable points in their European qualification push.
Focus shifts to Copa
Despite the disappointment, there’s little time for Betis to dwell on dropped points as they quickly pivot to cup action.
“We need to turn the page because Wednesday we have another very important match,” Lo Celso noted, referencing their upcoming Copa del Rey fixture.
For a player whose bread and butter is typically creating rather than scoring, getting back on the scoresheet will provide personal satisfaction, but as he admitted himself – the team result leaves “a bitter taste” that even his goal couldn’t fully sweeten.