Antony is back to his best at Real Betis

All three of the Brazilian’s goals so far have opened the scoring, to give his new club valuable leads.

When Real Betis confirmed the loan signing of Antony from Manchester United during the January transfer window, there was a buzz and there was excitement in the green and white half of Seville. Manuel Pellegrini knew it and the Real Betis fans did too, that Antony had the potential to take Los Verdiblancos to the next level.

The Brazilian’s 2022 transfer from Ajax to Manchester United was one of the top 20 most expensive of all time and, even if he didn’t score or assist as many goals as he was expected to at Old Trafford, the quality was always there, waiting to be unlocked again. At the Estadio Benito Villamarín, Antony is back in his comfort zone, and he is thriving.

The Brazilian has played just four games for his new club, three in LALIGA EA SPORTS and one in the Conference League, and he has already scored three goals, provided one assist and won one penalty. His most recent goal was a fierce volley, hit with power and precision on the jump from the edge of the area, to open the scoring in Los Verdiblancos’ 3-0 victory against Real Sociedad. Running to celebrate with the fans, Antony looked like a player completely content in his surroundings.

As he explained afterwards: “I’m really happy to have scored and helped the team. I think the most important thing is to be happy. If you’re content, then things flow naturally. I feel that here, and things are natural. I’m focused, happy and enjoying it every day.”

It seems that Antony is content in the football-mad city of Seville, and also with his position in Pellegrini’s line-up. Playing on the right side of a midfield that also includes the talent and experience of Isco and Giovani Lo Celso, and the raw explosiveness of highly rated 19-year-old Jesús Rodriguez, Antony is a key cog in a team that is almost always playing on the front foot, but he isn’t being asked to do too much either.

ANTONY’S CONTRIBUTIONS SINCE ARRIVING AT REAL BETIS

Even from his very first minutes in the Real Betis shirt, Antony has been making a positive impact. His debut, a 2-2 draw against Athletic Club, is the only game so far in which he doesn’t have a direct goal contribution to his name, however he was decisive in that match too. It was the Brazilian’s shot which was parried into the path of Isco for the Spaniard to open the scoring.

His next appearance was away at RC Celta, and he himself opened the scoring in that match in Vigo with a pinpoint finish into the far corner from inside the penalty area. Although RC Celta fought back to win that game 3-2, Antony once again showed that he could make a difference in attack for this Real Betis team.

Next up was a trip to Belgium, as Real Betis visited Gent in the Conference League playoff round. After dribbling away from his marker, Antony pulled the trigger from outside the box and found the far corner with precision to open the scoring in what became a 3-0 first leg win.

Then, on Sunday night, Antony turned in what was probably his best performance yet in green and white. Even before he opened the scoring against Real Sociedad with his terrific volley, the winger had won a penalty for his team, although Giovani Lo Celso’s effort was saved. Then, once his side were 2-0 up, Antony threaded the ball forward and gave an assist to Marc Roca, who scored his second of the game to effectively wrap up the three points.

Real Betis now have a commanding lead in their Conference League playoff tie and are up to eighth in LALIGA EA SPORTS, just three points off the final European qualification spot. That’s in large part thanks to the impact Antony has made since arriving and since fitting in seamlessly to Los Verdiblancos’ attack.