1996–97 Real Betis season

Real Betis Balompíé
1996–97 season
President	Manuel Ruiz de Lopera
Manager	Lorenzo Serra Ferrer
Stadium	Benito Villamarin
La Liga	4th
Copa del Rey	Runner-up (in UEFA Cup Winners' Cup)
Top goalscorer	League: Alfonso (25); All: Alfonso (27)
Home colours	Away colours
	← →

A season after promotion, Betis finished third and reached the Copa del Rey final.

Squad[]

Squad at end of season^[1]

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	Pedro Jaro
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
9	FW	ARG
10	MF	ESP	Juan José Cañas Gutiérrez
11	FW	ESP	Alfonso


No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
12	DF	SRB	Albert Nađ
13	GK	ESP	Toni Prats
14	DF	ESP	Roberto Ríos
15	FW	ESP	Pier
16	FW	POL	Wojciech Kowalczyk
17	DF	CRO	Robert Jarni
18	MF	CRO	Nenad Bjelica
19	FW	ESP	Juan Sabas
20	DF	ESP	Tomás Olías
21	DF	BIH	Risto Vidaković
25	MF	NGA	Finidi George
26	DF	ESP	Juan Redondo
27	MF	ESP	Capi
28	DF	ESP	Fernando Varela
29	GK	ESP	José Manuel Pinto

Left club during season[]

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


No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
9	MF	SCG	Vlada Stošić (to Atlante)

Competitions[]

La Liga[]

League table[]

Pos	Team v t	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification or relegation
2	Barcelona	42	28	6	8	102	48	+54	90	Qualification for the Champions League second qualifying round
3	Deportivo La Coruña	42	21	14	7	57	30	+27	77^[a]	Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round
4	Betis	42	21	14	7	81	46	+35	77^[a]	Qualification for the Cup Winners' Cup first round^[b]
5	Atlético Madrid	42	20	11	11	76	64	+12	71	Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round
6	Athletic Bilbao	42	16	16	10	72	57	+15	64^[c]	Qualification for the UEFA Cup first 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:

^ Jump up to: ^a ^b BET 1–2 DEP; DEP 3–0 BET
^ Since Barcelona, winners of 1996–97 Copa del Rey, was qualified for the 1997–98 UEFA Champions League, losing cup finalists Real Betis earned a spot in the first round of the 1997–98 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup.
^ VLD 0–0 ATH; ATH 0–0 VLD

Results by round[]

Team \ Round	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29	30	31	32	33	34	35	36	37	38	39	40	41	42
Betis	2	2	1	1	4	3	4	4	4	4	5	5	4	4	4	4	4	4	3	4	3	3	2	3	3	3	3	3	3	3	3	3	3	3	3	4	4	4	4	4	4	4

Source: LFP 1-4 5-8 9-12 13-16 17-20 21-22

Note: UEFA Cup Winners' Cup spot (in yellow) being non-related with a position in La Liga, does not appear until the team is assured to be qualified. Conditions to be assured are: Copa del Rey winner cannot reach UEFA Champions League's places or one of finalists' Copa del Rey cannot qualify mathematically to UEFA Champions League. Barcelona was qualified to UEFA Champions League since 39th round, thus Betis could not reach UEFA Champions League places, so after matchday 39 Betis' places are coloured in yellow. In light yellow the spot expected for 1997–98 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup.

	Leader
	1997–98 UEFA Champions League Group stage
	1997–98 UEFA Champions League Second qualifying round
	1997–98 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup First round
	1997–98 UEFA Cup First round
	Play-off relegation to 1997–98 Segunda División
	Relegation to 1997–98 Segunda División

Matches[]

1 September 1996 (1996-09-01) 1	Real Betis	3–0	Athletic de Bilbao	showSevilla
	Finidi 14' Roberto Rios 44' Sabas 85'			Stadium: Benito Villamarin Attendance: 45000

9 September 1996 (1996-09-09) 2	CF Extremadura	0–3	Real Betis	showExtremadura
			Alfonso 57' Pier 82' Jarni 88'	Stadium: Attendance: 9000

16 September 1996 (1996-09-16) 3	Real Betis	1–1	Real Madrid	showSevilla
	Alfonso 28'		Roberto Carlos 44'	Stadium: Benito Villamarin Attendance: 45000

22 September 1996 (1996-09-22) 4	RC Celta	0–2	Real Betis	showVigo
			46' Alexis Olias 90'	Stadium: Balaídos

28 September 1996 (1996-09-28) 5	Real Betis	1–2	Deportivo La Coruña	showSevilla
	Jarni 2'		Rivaldo 70' Madar 79'	Stadium: Benito Villamarin Attendance: 45,000

2 October 1996 (1996-10-02) 6	Hércules CF	0–1	Real Betis	showAlicante
			Alfonso 75'	Stadium: Jose Rico Perez Attendance: 15,000

12 October 1996 (1996-10-12) 7	Atlético de Madrid	2–2	Real Betis	showMadrid
	Juan Carlos 9' Simeone 17'		Alfonso 1' Sabas 84'	Stadium: Vicente Calderón Attendance: 40,000

22 October 1996 (1996-10-22) 8	Real Betis	3–0	Rayo Vallecano	showSevilla
	Finidi 30' Pier 56' Alfonso 71'			Stadium: Benito Villamarin Attendance: 40,000

23 October 1996 (1996-10-23) 9	Real Oviedo	1–1	Real Betis	showOviedo
	Manel 9'		Kowalczyk 27'	Stadium: Carlos Tartiere Attendance: 11,700

26 October 1996 (1996-10-26) 10	Real Betis	1–2	RCD Espanyol	showSevilla
	Pier 20'		Benitez 18' Lardin 44' (pen)	Stadium: Benito Villamarin Attendance: 40,600

2 November 1996 (1996-11-02) 11	Racing de Santander	1–1	Real Betis	showSantander
	Correa 79' (pen)		Sabas 90'	Stadium: El Sardinero Attendance: 16,000

10 November 1996 (1996-11-10) 12	Real Betis	2–1	Real Sociedad	showSevilla
	Alfonso 42' Olías 66'		Luis Perez 25'	Stadium: Benito Villamarin Attendance: 42,000

17 November 1996 (1996-11-17) 13	Real Zaragoza	2–2	Real Betis	showZaragoza
	33' 81'		Alexis 48' Alexis 86' (pen)	Stadium: La Romareda Referee: 20,000

24 November 1996 (1996-11-24) 14	Real Betis	3–1	CD Tenerife	showSevilla
	Pier 60' Finidi George 66' Finidi George 89'		28' Chano	Stadium: Benito Villamarin

1 December 1996 (1996-12-01) 15	SD Compostela	0–2	Real Betis	showSantiago de Compostela
			7' Alfonso 73'Finidi George	Stadium: Attendance: 9,000

8 December 1996 (1996-12-08) 16	Real Betis	5–1	CD Logroñés	showSevilla
	Vidakovic 18' Pier 37' Pier 71' Roberto Rios 53' Roberto Rios 67'		49' Clotet	Stadium: Benito Villamarin Attendance: 40,000

22 December 1996 (1996-12-22) 17	Sevilla FC	0–3	Real Betis	showSevilla
			39' (pen)Alexis 54'Alfonso 55'Olias	Stadium: Sanchez Pizjuan Attendance: 32,530

6 January 1997 (1997-01-06) 18	Real Betis	1–1	Valencia CF	showSevilla
	Alexis 72' (pen)	Report	80' Moya	Stadium: Benito Villamarin Attendance: 35,000

19 January 1997 (1997-01-19) 20	Real Betis	2–4	FC Barcelona	showSevilla
	Jarni 29' Jarni 31'	Report	45' Luis Enrique 62' Luis Enrique 74'Ronaldo 79' Luis Enrique	Stadium: Benito Villamarin Attendance: 45,000

27 January 1997 (1997-01-27) 21	Real Valladolid	1–3	Real Betis	showValladolid
	Victor 45'	Report	39' (pen) Alexis 51' Kowalczyk 88' Kowalczyk	Stadium: José Zorrilla Attendance: 15,000

2 February 1997 (1997-02-02) 22	Athletic de Bilbao	0–3	Real Betis	showBilbao
		Report	4' Alfonso 25' Olias 72' Kowalczyk 72	Stadium: San Mamés Attendance: 40,000

9 February 1997 (1997-02-09) 23	Real Betis	3–1	CF Extremadura	showSevilla
	Alfonso 69' Finidi 71' Pier 83'	Report	Ramis 56'	Stadium: Benito Villamarin Attendance: 35,000

15 February 1997 (1997-02-15) 24	Real Madrid	2–2	Real Betis	showMadrid
	Mijatović 19' Panucci 53'	Report	6'Alfonso 60'Finidi George	Stadium: Santiago Bernabéu Attendance: 100,000

19 February 1997 (1997-02-19) 25	Real Betis	1–1	RC Celta	showSevilla
	Alfonso 60'	Report	79' Mazinho	Stadium: Benito Villamarin Attendance: 40,000

23 February 1997 (1997 -02-23) 26	Deportivo La Coruña	3–0	Real Betis	showLa Coruña
	Rivaldo 36' Nando 39' Rivaldo 59'	Report		Stadium: Riazor Attendance: 22,000

2 March 1997 (1997-03-02) 27	Real Betis	2–1	Hércules CF	showSevilla
	Alfonso 8' Finidi 63'		Miljanovic 90'	Stadium: Benito Villamarin Attendance: 30,000

6 March 1997 (1997-03-06) 19	Sporting de Gijón	2–4	Real Betis	showGijón
	Lediakhov 6' Tcheryshev 89'	Report	37' Alfonso 88' Alfonso 46' Olias	Stadium: El Molinon Attendance: 17,350

9 March 1997 (1997-03-09) 28	Real Betis	3–2	Atlético de Madrid	showSevilla
	Alfonso 36' Alfonso 53' Alfonso 90'		29' Esnaider Vidakovic 68' (own goal)	Stadium: Benito Villamarin Attendance: 43,000

16 March 1997 (1997-03-16) 29	Rayo Vallecano	0–4	Real Betis	showMadrid
		Report	Alfonso 35' Alfonso 55' Alfonso 59' (pen) Pier 73'	Stadium: Vallecas Attendance: 10,000

22 March 1997 (1997-03-22) 30	Real Betis	4–0	Real Oviedo	showSevilla
	Pier 21' Alfonso 52' Bjelica 88' Finidi 90'	Report		Stadium: Benito Villamarin Attendance: 40,000

30 March 1997 (1997-03-30) 31	RCD Espanyol	0–0	Real Betis	showBarcelona
		Report		Stadium: Montjuic Attendance: 25,000

6 April 1997 (1997-04-06) 32	Real Betis	2–2	Racing de Santander	showSevilla
	Alberto 6' (own goal) Alfonso 39'	Report	44' Merino 88' Alberto	Stadium: Benito Villamarin Attendance: 40,000

13 April 1997 (1997-04-13) 33	Real Sociedad	0–1	Real Betis	showSan Sebastián
		Report	90' Josete	Stadium: Anoeta Attendance: 22,000

16 April 1997 (1997-04-16) 34	Real Betis	2–2	Real Zaragoza	showSevilla
	Alfonso 4' Alfonso 28' (pen)	Report	31' Nayim 83' (pen) Aragon	Stadium: Benito Villamarin Attendance: 40,000

19 April 1997 (1997-04-19) 35	CD Tenerife	0–1	Real Betis	showTenerife
			27' Jokanovic	Stadium: Attendance: 15,000

4 May 1997 (1997-05-04) 36	Real Betis	0–0	SD Compostela	showSevilla
				Stadium: Benito Villamarin Attendance: 45,000

11 May 1997 (1997-05-11) 37	Logroñés	2–1	Real Betis	showLogroñés
	Ruben Sosa 27' Bjelica 88'		64' Manel	Stadium: Attendance: 10,000

17 May 1997 (1997-05-17) 38	Real Betis	3–3	Sevilla FC	showSevilla
	Jarni 8' Jarni 47' Cañas 88'		27' (pen) Prosinecki 90' Salva 91' Galvan	Stadium: Benito Villamarin Attendance: 44,000

26 May 1997 (1997-05-26) 39	Valencia CF	1–1	Real Betis	showValencia
	Vlaovic 69'		9' Cañas	Stadium: Mestalla Attendance: 40,000

31 May 1997 (1997-05-31) 40	Real Betis	0–1	Sporting de Gijón	showSevilla
			55' Tcherysev	Stadium: Benito Villamarin Attendance: 30,000

15 June 1997 (1997-06-15) 41	FC Barcelona	3–0	Real Betis	showBarcelona
	Oscar 44' Stoichkov 75' Luis Enrique 83'			Stadium: Camp Nou Attendance: 70,000

21 June 1997 (1997-06-21) 42	Real Betis	2–0	Real Valladolid	showBarcelona
	Kowalczyk 11' Finidi 74'			Stadium: Camp Nou

Copa del Rey[]

Second Round

6 November 1996 (1996-11-06)	Ecija	1–2	Real Betis	showEcija
				Stadium: Municipal

27 November 1996 (1996-11-27)	Real Betis	2–0	Ecija	showSevilla
				Stadium: Benito Villamarin

Third Round

8 January 1997 (1997-01-08)	Granada CF	0–1	Real Betis	showGranada
				Stadium:

15 January 1997 (1997-01-15)	Real Betis	3–0	Granada CF	showSevilla
				Stadium: Benito Villamarin

Round of 16

30 January 1997 (1997-01-30)	CD Tenerife	0–2	Real Betis	showTenerife
				Stadium:

5 February 1997 (1997-02-05)	Real Betis	3–0	CD Tenerife	showSevilla
				Stadium: Benito Villamarin

Quarterfinals

26 February 1997 (1997-02-26)	Real Betis	2–0	Rayo Vallecano	showSevilla
				Stadium: Benito Villamarin

13 March 1997 (1997-03-13)	Rayo Vallecano	1–2	Real Betis	showMadrid
				Stadium: Vallecas

Semifinals

()	Real Betis	1–0	RC Celta	showSevilla
				Stadium: Benito Villamarin

3 April 1997 (1997-04-03)	RC Celta	1–1	Real Betis	showVigo
				Stadium: Balaídos

Final[]

28 June 1997 (1997-06-28)	Real Betis	2–3	FC Barcelona	showMadrid
	Alfonso 11' Nadj 14' Alexis 26' Jaime Quesada 77' Finidi 82' 89'	Report	Figo 41' 45' Ferrer 54' De la Peña 72' Pizzi 85' Figo 114'	Stadium: Santiago Bernabéu Referee:

Statistics[]

Player statistics[]

No.	Pos	Nat	Player	Total		1996–97 La Liga		1996–97 Copa del Rey
No.	Pos	Nat	Player	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
13	GK		Toni Prats	40	-45	40	-45	0	0
20	DF		Tomás Olías	38	6	25+3	5	9+1	1
21	DF		Risto Vidaković	35	6	30	1	5	5
14	DF		Roberto Ríos	45	3	35+1	3	7+2	0
6	DF		Juan Merino	43	1	35+1	0	6+1	1
25	MF		Finidi George	42	11	33+3	10	5+1	1
7	MF		Alexis	45	7	38	6	7	1
12	MF		Albert Nađ	36	0	23+7	0	5+1	0
17	MF		Robert Jarni	42	5	34+2	5	5+1	0
11	FW		Alfonso	51	27	40+1	25	7+3	2
15	FW		Pier	42	11	26+8	9	6+2	2
1	GK		Pedro Jaro	13	-7	2	-1	11	-6
10	MF		Cañas	43	5	19+13	2	9+2	3
2	DF		Jaime	33	0	19+5	0	8+1	0
16	FW		Wojciech Kowalczyk	30	8	14+12	6	3+1	2
18	MF		Nenad Bjelica	35	4	10+17	2	3+5	2
3	DF		Luis Fernández	22	0	18	0	4	0
19	FW		Juan Sabas	31	7	2+21	3	6+2	4
8	MF			18	0	7+4	0	5+2	0
5	DF		Josete	13	1	6+3	1	2+2	0
4	DF		Juan Antonio Ureña	17	0	5+5	0	6+1	0
28	DF		Fernando Varela	3	0	1+2	0
27	MF		Capi	2	0	0+2	0
26	DF		Juan Redondo	3	0	0+2	0	0+1	0
9	FW		Vlada Stosic	2	1	0	0	2	1

Source:^{[citation needed]}

References[]

^ "FootballSquads - Betis - 1996/97".

[table_hth_BET0.80279973652344-2] Jump up to: ^a ^b BET 1–2 DEP; DEP 3–0 BET

[table_note_res_UCWC10.80279973652344-3] Since Barcelona, winners of 1996–97 Copa del Rey, was qualified for the 1997–98 UEFA Champions League, losing cup finalists Real Betis earned a spot in the first round of the 1997–98 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup.

[table_hth_VLD0.80279973652344-4] VLD 0–0 ATH; ATH 0–0 VLD

[1] "FootballSquads - Betis - 1996/97".

[1]

[a]

[b]

[c]

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