Bellerín: I have never experienced an atmosphere like the one at Betis in my life. My friend from England couldn’t believe the madness that was going on here

Héctor Bellerín swapped the 60,000-capacity Emirates Stadium for the 60,000-capacity Benito Villamarín in the summer and he certainly doesn’t regret that decision. He is perfectly happy at Betis, and most of all he praises the fans, who are among the best in Spain.

Those who have been to football in England and Spain can compare for themselves. If you haven’t, Héctor Bellerín will help. While the atmosphere in the Premier League is lauded, it’s not so glorious in person. The fans sing the anthem before the game, and occasionally a few chants, but for the rest of the game most of the stadium sits and cheers only when a goal is scored.

This doesn’t apply to all teams of course, there are exceptions, such as Crystal Palace, West Ham, where fans support their team for the whole 90 minutes. However, matches of big teams like Arsenal, Chelsea, both Manchester clubs or Tottenham often don’t have the necessary atmosphere.

So when Bellerín arrived at Betis in the summer and started playing at the Estadio Benito Villamarín, he was in complete shock. The green and white fans known as ‘Los Beticos’ are the best fans in Spain when it comes to creating an atmosphere at home games. They’re fighting for this triumph with Sevilla, their arch city rival.

“Everybody is banging on the bus, there are flares everywhere, people are still coming out onto the streets. I had a friend from England come to see me and he couldn’t believe what was happening. When they sing the anthem at Betis, I have to say I’ve never heard a stadium sing the anthem like that in my life. Never. My grandfather isn’t even a Betis fan and it made him cry because the harmony that’s going on… You see everyone with their hands up, with scarves, it’s something completely different,” Bellerín told Ringer FC after the Sevilla derby.

If you don’t believe Bellerín’s words, see for yourself:

Verdiblancos fans can create a truly hellish atmosphere. Their darlings are finally giving it back to them this season, with Bellerín and co. in third place in La Liga behind Real Madrid and Sevilla. Most importantly, they knocked out the hated Sevilla in the Copa del Rey, beating them for the first time since 2018.

It’s just that Betis fans are notorious for definitely not being fans of success. Betis is a religion for them and they cheer to the fullest in every game, even in the worst moments. Even when the Andalusians were relegated to the Segunda División in the 2013/14 season, the fans didn’t stop coming and cheering all the same.

Having managed to dig out a return to the elite in the very first season, the fans thoroughly enjoyed the subsequent celebrations.

So if you want to experience the hell of a football stadium and don’t want to drive the distance to Argentina, just head to the south of Spain to Benito Villamarín. You won’t regret it.

Source: Ringer FC, Real Betis Balompié