As a player signed from Leeds United to the tune of just £2.5 million volleyed in the goal which put Champions League football back on the agenda, one local publication asked – reasonably – ‘what more could you ask for?’
One of the most impressive aspects of Daniel Farke’s team this season is that Leeds United have spread the goals around pretty effectively.
Ahead of that 1-1 draw with West Bromwich Albion – in which left-back Junior Firpo continued his ‘amazing’ form with a clever glancing header – eight of Daniel Farke’s starters that day had scored at least one goal in the club’s previous five Championship outings.
Joel Piroe may be leading the Golden Boot charge, despite a rare off-day for the striker at Fratton Park, but he is one of eleven Leeds players to have hit the net at least three times in England’s second tier this season.
Over in Spain, meanwhile, Diego Llorente channelled his inner Pascal Struijk or Junior Firpo as Real Betis cut the gap between themselves and La Liga’s top four. Like Struijk did against Sunderland – twice, in fact – and like Firpo did against Sheffield United, Llorente was the unlikely hero from defence.
Diego Llorente inspiring Champions League charge after Leeds United exit
“Diego Llorente defends and scores goals,” Diario de Sevilla exclaim. “What more could you ask for?”
What more indeed.
Just one week prior, Diego Llorente produced a defensive masterclass against Kylian Mbappe as Betis defeated Real Madrid 2-1 at the Estadio Benito Villamarin. He turned from goal-stopper to goal-scorer when Las Palmas came to town on Sunday.
Llorente fizzed home a 65th minute winner. An instinctive finish a centre-forward would have been proud of.
Thus, securing Manuel Pellegrini’s upwardly-mobile Real Betis side their fourth successive La Liga victory. Their longest string of wins in the entire top-flight season. And, as Atletico Madrid, Athletic Bilbao Villarreal all dropped points, the gap between Betis in sixth and Athletic in fourth now stands at eight points.
A still considerable gap, of course. But with momentum on Betis’ side, belief is growing.
In a further boost to their Champions League prospects, the team sitting in fifth could be granted a place in Europe’s premiere club competition next season depending on how the coefficient turns out.
Llorente keeps Real Betis ‘dream’ alive in La Liga
“Diego Llorente was the MVP of the match thanks to his goal, which gave Betis an important victory that allows them to dream of fighting for fifth place,” Diario de Sevilla write. “Which could lead to the Champions League at the end of the season.”
As former Leeds team-mate Marc Roca struggles with injury, Llorente is emerging as the Elland Road import most central to Betis’ European hopes.
Interestingly, reports claim Real Betis are keen to bring Junior Firpo back to his old stomping ground this summer. Should Llorente keep the fuse lit on a Champions League charge, Los Verdiblancos will found themselves operating from a position of real strength in the transfer market.
“We found the reward for persistence,” Llorente beams, netting only his second Betis goal at the 35th attempt.
“The team gave it their all. There are days when it’s harder but, by persisting, we find our rewards. The ball was dead in my path and I didn’t think about [hitting it].
“It was a good goal.”
What the Spanish media are saying about Diego Llorente one year after Leeds United sold him
