Atlético made a bright start as they hunted a fourth home win in a row, and took the lead in spectacular style inside 10 minutes. Julián Alvarez took responsibility for a 30-yard free-kick, which he curled right-footed beyond Adrián into the top corner.
That was the Argentinian’s 16th strike of the season, one behind teammate Alexander Sørloth, who came close to doubling the lead soon after with an audacious flick when meeting Marcos Llorente’s cutback, only for Adrián to deny him.
Sørloth continued to be frustrated throughout the half – a goal disallowed for offside was followed by ballooning a golden opportunity over the bar, having out-muscled the defence.
Later, Giuliano Simeone slotted a through ball his way, but a spread-eagled Adrián pulled off a fine stop. Amidst Sørloth’s chances, Alvarez came close to his second, dancing his way through Betis’ back line before planting his effort against the post as Los Colchoneros dominated.
After all the chances for the forwards, the lead was doubled in first-half stoppage time by an unlikely source – a corner was kept alive by Samuel Lino, who clipped the ball back into the danger area where Robin Le Normand was waiting to head home his first of the season.
Other than another Sørloth strike being thwarted by Adrián, Diego Simeone’s side failed to generate any real chances after the break, and were made to pay for not seeing the game off midway through the second half, when Betis finally showed something of the side that was on an eight-match unbeaten run.
Pablo Fornals found Giovani Lo Celso on the edge of the box, who chipped a return pass into the area, which Fornals volleyed acrobatically past Jan Oblak.
But with 15 minutes to play, Los Verdiblancos’ hopes of a comeback were dashed when Antoine Griezmann played a one-two with Simeone before squaring the ball across for Alvarez to tap home his second.
Atleti rounded off an 11th home win over Betis in their last 12 in added time, when Alvarez found Ángel Correa, who rounded the goalkeeper and slotted number four past the scrambling defence.
Victory wraps up third place for Atleti, while Betis will play the UEFA Conference League final as the sixth-best team in LaLiga this season.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Julián Alvarez (Atlético Madrid)