Real Zaragoza were beaten heavily by Sevilla last night, which means the gap between Betis and the relegation zone is now effectively 12 points (11 plus the head-to-head advantage). With just 18 left to play for, and Betis arguably in their most consistent form of the whole season, I think we can agree it would take about ten consecutive freak results for the verdiblancos to get relegated from here. So why don't you just sit back and relax while I make a long-overdue addition to our compilation of Betis songs you might hear at the Villamarín?
Today's contribution - let's call it Hola Gol Norte - is a rare bird, as it's only spotted when the team have a comfortable lead (before last Saturday night, for instance, when it got an airing with Betis three-up against Villareal, I honestly can't remember when I last heard it). And like Forza Real Betis, it involves a certain amount of ritual beyond the mere chant itself.
What happens is that, as if by magic, a cry goes out from Gol Sur (the section behind the goal to the right from the television's point of view): "Hola, Gol Norte!" (Hello, Gol Norte - ie, the stand opposite.) Gol Norte replies, "Hola Gol Su-ur!" (Hello, Gol Sur.) This call and response is repeated another two times, after which both sides come together with a self-congratulatory round of applause. Then, usually, there's a coda of, "Que bote, que bote, que bote el Gol Norte!" (Everyone in Gol Norte bounce up and down).
Next, and note that it's always in this precise order, it's the turn of Fondo - the stand opposite the TV cameras. "Hola, el Fondo!" "Hola, Gol Su-ur!" etc, x3, plus applause and "Que bote el Fondo!"
And finally, as you might have guessed by now, the main stand gets a go: "Hola, Preferencia!" "Hola, Gol Sur!" And so on.
The whole liturgy probably sounds complicated beyond all likelihood if you've never witnessed it, but I've managed to track down some video evidence (which seems to come from the 5-0 defeat of Cartagena about a year ago) to show how it works. And if you're wondering how the visiting players feel about this kind of showboating, all I can add that on more than one occasion it's been the cue for an unlikely opposition comeback. To be used with care, in other words.
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