With neither side having lost in league action since August and the two teams locked on 16 points coming into this game, this was set to be an intriguing encounter, and inside three minutes, a cross from Giuliano Simeone drifted agonisingly past Julian Alvarez.
The ball was ultimately put out of play by Hector Bellerín, but the resulting long throw-in by David Hancko was not properly cleared by Betis, who were made to pay as Simeone hit a wonderful volley into Pau Lopez’s bottom left-hand corner.
Betis responded reasonably well, with Antony’s cross just evading Cucho Hernandez, before Lopez was forced to tip away Juventus loanee Nico Gonzalez’s effort and Bellerín subsequently got back to vitally clear Pablo Barrios’ cross.
It took until the 28th minute for Betis to test Jan Oblak, who got down sharply to parry Abde Ezzalzouli’s strike, but Atleti remained a threat on occasion, with Simeone embarking on an excellent run before laying off to Alvarez, who shot wastefully wide when he should have at least made Lopez work.
That moment ceased to matter though as Atleti doubled their lead in first-half stoppage time.
With Betis complaining about a foul on Natan by Robin Le Normand in Atleti’s box following a free-kick, the visitors broke through Alvarez, whose cross seemed like it had not amounted to anything until it was collected on the left wing by Alex Baena, who drove infield and curled home sumptuously.
Having watched his side enjoy the majority of possession, Manuel Pellegrini will have gone in at half-time incredibly frustrated at Betis’ lack of precise passing and predictable patterns of play, deciding to take off Marc Roca at the break and bring on the more attacking Giovani Lo Celso.
He had somewhat of an impact, registering a shot on target either side of slipping in Ezzalzouli, who couldn’t apply the finish on the stretch.
Ezzalzouli then almost had the home fans on their feet in celebration as his free-kick thundered off Oblak’s crossbar.
However, sixth-placed Betis were unable to create consistent waves of pressure and failed to score in a La Liga match for the first time since January, while Atleti, marshalled by Jose Gimenez, are now fourth after leapfrogging Espanyol following their first away win of the campaign.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Jose Gimenez (Atletico Madrid)