| 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) | ||
|  | |||
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.
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Left club during season
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Competitions
La Liga
League table
| Pos | Team | 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[lower-alpha 1] | Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round | 
| 4 | Betis | 42 | 21 | 14 | 7 | 81 | 46 | +35 | 77[lower-alpha 1] | Qualification for the Cup Winners' Cup first round[lower-alpha 2] | 
| 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[lower-alpha 3] | 
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:
- 1 2 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.
Matches
| 1 September 1996 1 | Real Betis | 3–0 | Athletic de Bilbao | Sevilla | 
| Finidi  14' Roberto Rios  44' Sabas  85' | Stadium: Benito Villamarin Attendance: 45000 | 
| 9 September 1996 2 | CF Extremadura | 0–3 | Real Betis | Extremadura | 
| Alfonso  57' Pier  82' Jarni  88' | Stadium: Francisco de la Hera Stadium Attendance: 9000 | 
| 16 September 1996 3 | Real Betis | 1–1 | Real Madrid | Sevilla | 
| Alfonso  28' | Roberto Carlos  44' | Stadium: Benito Villamarin Attendance: 45000 | 
| 28 September 1996 5 | Real Betis | 1–2 | Deportivo La Coruña | Sevilla | 
| Jarni  2' | Rivaldo  70' Madar  79' | Stadium: Benito Villamarin Attendance: 45,000 | 
| 2 October 1996 6 | Hércules CF | 0–1 | Real Betis | Alicante | 
| Alfonso  75' | Stadium: Jose Rico Perez Attendance: 15,000 | 
| 12 October 1996 7 | Atlético de Madrid | 2–2 | Real Betis | Madrid | 
| Juan Carlos  9' Simeone  17' | Alfonso  1' Sabas  84' | Stadium: Vicente Calderón Attendance: 40,000 | 
| 22 October 1996 8 | Real Betis | 3–0 | Rayo Vallecano | Sevilla | 
| Finidi  30' Pier  56' Alfonso  71' | Stadium: Benito Villamarin Attendance: 40,000 | 
| 23 October 1996 9 | Real Oviedo | 1–1 | Real Betis | Oviedo | 
| Manel  9' | Kowalczyk  27' | Stadium: Carlos Tartiere Attendance: 11,700 | 
| 26 October 1996 10 | Real Betis | 1–2 | RCD Espanyol | Sevilla | 
| Pier  20' | Benitez  18' Lardin  44' (pen) | Stadium: Benito Villamarin Attendance: 40,600 | 
| 2 November 1996 11 | Racing de Santander | 1–1 | Real Betis | Santander | 
| Correa  79' (pen) | Sabas  90' | Stadium: El Sardinero Attendance: 16,000 | 
| 10 November 1996 12 | Real Betis | 2–1 | Real Sociedad | Sevilla | 
| Alfonso  42' Olías  66' | Luis Perez  25' | Stadium: Benito Villamarin Attendance: 42,000 | 
| 17 November 1996 13 | Real Zaragoza | 2–2 | Real Betis | Zaragoza | 
| Dani  33' Dani  81' | Alexis  48' Alexis  86' (pen) | Stadium: La Romareda Referee: 20,000 | 
| 24 November 1996 14 | Real Betis | 3–1 | CD Tenerife | Sevilla | 
| Pier  60' Finidi George  66' Finidi George  89' |  28' Chano | Stadium: Benito Villamarin | 
| 1 December 1996 15 | SD Compostela | 0–2 | Real Betis | Santiago de Compostela | 
|  7' Alfonso  73'Finidi George | Stadium: Multiusos de San Lazaro Attendance: 9,000 | 
| 8 December 1996 16 | Real Betis | 5–1 | CD Logroñés | Sevilla | 
| Vidakovic  18' Pier  37' Pier  71' Roberto Rios  53' Roberto Rios  67' |  49' Clotet | Stadium: Benito Villamarin Attendance: 40,000 | 
| 22 December 1996 17 | Sevilla FC | 0–3 | Real Betis | Sevilla | 
|  39' (pen)Alexis  54'Alfonso  55'Olias | Stadium: Sanchez Pizjuan Attendance: 32,530 | 
| 6 January 1997 18 | Real Betis | 1–1 | Valencia CF | Sevilla | 
| Alexis  72' (pen) | Report |  80' Moya | Stadium: Benito Villamarin Attendance: 35,000 | 
| 19 January 1997 20 | Real Betis | 2–4 | FC Barcelona | Sevilla | 
| 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 21 | Real Valladolid | 1–3 | Real Betis | Valladolid | 
| Victor  45' | Report |  39' (pen) Alexis  51' Kowalczyk  88' Kowalczyk | Stadium: José Zorrilla Attendance: 15,000 | 
| 2 February 1997 22 | Athletic de Bilbao | 0–3 | Real Betis | Bilbao | 
| Report |  4' Alfonso  25' Olias  72' Kowalczyk 72 | Stadium: San Mamés Attendance: 40,000 | 
| 9 February 1997 23 | Real Betis | 3–1 | CF Extremadura | Sevilla | 
| Alfonso  69' Finidi  71' Pier  83' | Report | Ramis  56' | Stadium: Benito Villamarin Attendance: 35,000 | 
| 15 February 1997 24 | Real Madrid | 2–2 | Real Betis | Madrid | 
| Mijatović  19' Panucci  53' | Report |  6'Alfonso  60'Finidi George | Stadium: Santiago Bernabéu Attendance: 100,000 | 
| 19 February 1997 25 | Real Betis | 1–1 | RC Celta | Sevilla | 
| Alfonso  60' | Report |  79' Mazinho | Stadium: Benito Villamarin Attendance: 40,000 | 
| 23 February 1997 26 | Deportivo La Coruña | 3–0 | Real Betis | La Coruña | 
| Rivaldo  36' Nando  39' Rivaldo  59' | Report | Stadium: Riazor Attendance: 22,000 | 
| 2 March 1997 27 | Real Betis | 2–1 | Hércules CF | Sevilla | 
| Alfonso  8' Finidi  63' | Miljanovic  90' | Stadium: Benito Villamarin Attendance: 30,000 | 
| 6 March 1997 19 | Sporting de Gijón | 2–4 | Real Betis | Gijón | 
| Lediakhov  6' Tcheryshev  89' | Report |  37' Alfonso  88' Alfonso  46' Olias | Stadium: El Molinon Attendance: 17,350 | 
| 9 March 1997 28 | Real Betis | 3–2 | Atlético de Madrid | Sevilla | 
| Alfonso  36' Alfonso  53' Alfonso  90' |  29' Esnaider Vidakovic  68' (own goal) | Stadium: Benito Villamarin Attendance: 43,000 | 
| 16 March 1997 29 | Rayo Vallecano | 0–4 | Real Betis | Madrid | 
| Report | Alfonso  35' Alfonso  55' Alfonso  59' (pen) Pier  73' | Stadium: Vallecas Attendance: 10,000 | 
| 22 March 1997 30 | Real Betis | 4–0 | Real Oviedo | Sevilla | 
| Pier  21' Alfonso  52' Bjelica  88' Finidi  90' | Report | Stadium: Benito Villamarin Attendance: 40,000 | 
| 30 March 1997 31 | RCD Espanyol | 0–0 | Real Betis | Barcelona | 
| Report | Stadium: Montjuic Attendance: 25,000 | 
| 6 April 1997 32 | Real Betis | 2–2 | Racing de Santander | Sevilla | 
| Alberto  6' (own goal) Alfonso  39' | Report |  44' Merino  88' Alberto | Stadium: Benito Villamarin Attendance: 40,000 | 
| 13 April 1997 33 | Real Sociedad | 0–1 | Real Betis | San Sebastián | 
| Report |  90' Josete | Stadium: Anoeta Attendance: 22,000 | 
| 16 April 1997 34 | Real Betis | 2–2 | Real Zaragoza | Sevilla | 
| Alfonso  4' Alfonso  28' (pen) | Report |  31' Nayim  83' (pen) Aragon | Stadium: Benito Villamarin Attendance: 40,000 | 
| 19 April 1997 35 | CD Tenerife | 0–1 | Real Betis | Tenerife | 
|  27' Jokanovic | Stadium: Heliodoro Roriguez Lopez Attendance: 15,000 | 
| 4 May 1997 36 | Real Betis | 0–0 | SD Compostela | Sevilla | 
| Stadium: Benito Villamarin Attendance: 45,000 | 
| 11 May 1997 37 | Logroñés | 2–1 | Real Betis | Logroñés | 
| Ruben Sosa  27' Bjelica  88' |  64' Manel | Stadium: Las Gaunas Attendance: 10,000 | 
| 17 May 1997 38 | Real Betis | 3–3 | Sevilla FC | Sevilla | 
| Jarni  8' Jarni  47' Cañas  88' |  27' (pen) Prosinecki  90' Salva  91' Galvan | Stadium: Benito Villamarin Attendance: 44,000 | 
| 26 May 1997 39 | Valencia CF | 1–1 | Real Betis | Valencia | 
| Vlaovic  69' |  9' Cañas | Stadium: Mestalla Attendance: 40,000 | 
| 31 May 1997 40 | Real Betis | 0–1 | Sporting de Gijón | Sevilla | 
|  55' Tcherysev | Stadium: Benito Villamarin Attendance: 30,000 | 
| 15 June 1997 41 | FC Barcelona | 3–0 | Real Betis | Barcelona | 
| Oscar  44' Stoichkov  75' Luis Enrique  83' | Stadium: Camp Nou Attendance: 70,000 | 
| 21 June 1997 42 | Real Betis | 2–0 | Real Valladolid | Barcelona | 
| Kowalczyk  11' Finidi  74' | Stadium: Camp Nou | 
Copa del Rey
Second Round
| 27 November 1996 | Real Betis | 2–0 | Ecija | Sevilla | 
| Stadium: Benito Villamarin | 
Third Round
| 8 January 1997 | Granada CF | 0–1 | Real Betis | Granada | 
| Stadium: Los Carmenes | 
| 15 January 1997 | Real Betis | 3–0 | Granada CF | Sevilla | 
| Stadium: Benito Villamarin | 
Round of 16
| 30 January 1997 | CD Tenerife | 0–2 | Real Betis | Tenerife | 
| Stadium: Heliodoro Rodriguez Lopez | 
| 5 February 1997 | Real Betis | 3–0 | CD Tenerife | Sevilla | 
| Stadium: Benito Villamarin | 
Quarterfinals
| 26 February 1997 | Real Betis | 2–0 | Rayo Vallecano | Sevilla | 
| Stadium: Benito Villamarin | 
| 13 March 1997 | Rayo Vallecano | 1–2 | Real Betis | Madrid | 
| Stadium: Vallecas | 
Semifinals
| Real Betis | 1–0 | RC Celta | Sevilla | |
| Stadium: Benito Villamarin | 
Final
| 28 June 1997 | Real Betis | 2–3 | FC Barcelona | Madrid | 
| 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: Ansuategui Roca | 
Statistics
Player statistics
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | 1996–97 La Liga | 1996–97 Copa del Rey | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||||
| 13 | GK |  ESP | Toni Prats | 40 | -45 | 40 | -45 | 0 | 0 | 
| 20 | DF |  ESP | Tomás Olías | 38 | 6 | 25+3 | 5 | 9+1 | 1 | 
| 21 | DF |  BIH | Risto Vidaković | 35 | 6 | 30 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 
| 14 | DF |  ESP | Roberto Ríos | 45 | 3 | 35+1 | 3 | 7+2 | 0 | 
| 6 | DF |  ESP | Juan Merino | 43 | 1 | 35+1 | 0 | 6+1 | 1 | 
| 17 | DF |  CRO | Robert Jarni | 42 | 5 | 34+2 | 5 | 5+1 | 0 | 
| 25 | MF |  NGA | Finidi George | 42 | 11 | 33+3 | 10 | 5+1 | 1 | 
| 7 | MF |  ESP | Alexis | 45 | 7 | 38 | 6 | 7 | 1 | 
| 12 | MF |  SRB | Albert Nađ | 36 | 0 | 23+7 | 0 | 5+1 | 0 | 
| 11 | FW |  ESP | Alfonso | 51 | 27 | 40+1 | 25 | 7+3 | 2 | 
| 15 | FW |  ESP | Pier | 42 | 11 | 26+8 | 9 | 6+2 | 2 | 
| 1 | GK |  ESP | Pedro Jaro | 13 | -7 | 2 | -1 | 11 | -6 | 
| 10 | MF |  ESP | Cañas | 43 | 5 | 19+13 | 2 | 9+2 | 3 | 
| 2 | DF |  ESP | Jaime | 33 | 0 | 19+5 | 0 | 8+1 | 0 | 
| 16 | FW |  POL | Wojciech Kowalczyk | 30 | 8 | 14+12 | 6 | 3+1 | 2 | 
| 18 | MF |  CRO | Nenad Bjelica | 35 | 4 | 10+17 | 2 | 3+5 | 2 | 
| 3 | DF |  ESP | Luis Fernández | 22 | 0 | 18 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 
| 19 | FW |  ESP | Juan Sabas | 31 | 7 | 2+21 | 3 | 6+2 | 4 | 
| 8 | MF |  ESP | Luis Márquez | 18 | 0 | 7+4 | 0 | 5+2 | 0 | 
| 5 | DF |  ESP | Josete | 13 | 1 | 6+3 | 1 | 2+2 | 0 | 
| 4 | DF |  ESP | Juan Antonio Ureña | 17 | 0 | 5+5 | 0 | 6+1 | 0 | 
| 28 | DF |  ESP | Fernando Varela | 3 | 0 | 1+2 | 0 | ||
| 27 | MF |  ESP | Capi | 2 | 0 | 0+2 | 0 | ||
| 26 | DF |  ESP | Juan Redondo | 3 | 0 | 0+2 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 
| 9 | FW |  SRB | Vlada Stosic | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 











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