From the Brentford FC website:
BRENTFORD 1 REAL BETIS 0
Bees end pre-season with victory over Copa del Rey champions
Brentford beat LaLiga side Real Betis 1-0 in their final friendly before the start of the Premier League season.
Bryan Mbeumo scored the only goal of the game at the Gtech Community Stadium, meaning the Bees head into next weekend’s opener against Leicester with a win under their belt.
Christian Norgaard came into the Brentford midfield in what was his first game of pre-season. He was joined by new signings Aaron Hickey and Ben Mee in the starting XI.
It was a bright start for Thomas Frank’s side and, within the opening minute, Yoanne Wissa and Ivan Toney linked up well, before the latter’s shot was comfortably saved by ex-Manchester City goalkeeper Claudio Bravo.
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04SAMAN GHODDOS
Betis had a chance soon after, as right-back Youssouf Sabaly sent a volley towards goal after the original cross was cleared by new man Mee, which David Raya did well to keep out at his near post.
The Bees remained on top throughout the opening ten minutes and were inches away from taking the lead, as Toney, involved again, teed up team-mate Mbeumo, whose curling effort was saved by Bravo, before the rebound cleared.
Talented playmaker Nabil Fekir had the chance to show off his trademark set-piece ability from a close-range free-kick and, again, Raya smartly tipped wide.
Brentford took the lead on the half-hour mark after some great work from Rico Henry down the left-hand side and after squirming his way through multiple defenders, he cut back to Mbeumo, who made no mistake and powered it into the back of the net.
Betis nearly equalised in fortunate circumstances after Aaron Hickey’s clearance deflected off Toney but, after the ball fell to William Carvalho, who then squared to summer signing Luiz Henrique, the Brazilian blazed over from close range just before half-time.
Just like the first goal, Mbeumo and Toney combined again in the opening stages of the second half, which led to the Bees’ No.17 rounding the ‘keeper and hitting the side netting, as the offside flag was raised.
Betis captain Fekir tried his luck from outside the area again but couldn’t beat Raya, who didn’t have much trouble in keeping out the Frenchman’s tame effort.
Keane Lewis-Potter and Saman Ghoddos, who both came on as substitutes during the second half, almost combined for a fantastic goal, after Lewis-Potter’s smart turn and cross from Mads Roerslev led to an incredible acrobatic effort from Ghoddos, which was kept out by Rui Silva.
Wissa also almost doubled the Bees’ lead as the game headed into the final ten minutes after he was played through by Toney, but his chip over Silva lacked the power required and the ball was cleared off the line.
Brentford had multiple chances to score more in the second half, but it ended 1-0 in West London.
Brentford: Raya, Hickey (Roerslev 61), Jansson, Mee (Bech 76), Henry (Ghoddos 76), Janelt (Onyeka 76), Jensen (Dasilva 61), Norgaard (Lewis-Potter 61), Wissa (Baptiste 83), Toney, Mbeumo
Real Betis: Bravo (Silva 46), Sabaly (Ruibal 46), Felipe, Pezzella, Moreno, Carvalho (Guardado 61), Rodriguez (Akouokou 71), Fekir, Henrique (Juanmi 46), Iglesias (Willian Jose 71), Rober (Joaquin 46)
Referee: Chris Kavanagh
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