Betis Triumphs 2-1 Over Sparta Prague in Europa League Group C
In the second day of Europa League Group C, Betis came from behind to defeat Sparta Prague 2-1 thanks to a late winning header from Isco Alarcón, a moment that sealed Betis’ first win in this stage. The Czechs had started strong in the first half, showing compact organization and danger going forward, but Betis improved after the break and earned a deserved victory that balanced the group standings.
The Andalusian side began the match with high energy against a dominant Sparta opponent. Betis pressed high and looked to take the initiative, nearly breaking through early when Veljko Birmancevic opened the scoring for Sparta after just 2.5 minutes. The visitors unsettled Betis with quick transitions and calculated pressing, while the home side created chances as well. Six minutes after the opener, Asane Diao capitalized on a miscue by the Czech goalkeeper to level the score, bringing Betis back into the game as the first half unfolded with renewed urgency.
Heading into the encounter, Betis faced a challenging test. They aimed to demonstrate strength at their stadium, having collected two wins and two draws in La Liga recently, and they were eager to bounce back following a 1-0 defeat at Rangers earlier in the season. Sparta Prague, the Czech champions, sought to keep their momentum going after a 3-2 league win over Aris Limassol, and they lined up with a familiar 3-4-3 formation. The back line featured Pezzella as a central pillar alongside Marc Bartra’s injury absence, prompting manager Manuel Pellegrini to rotate personnel with five changes from the previous match. Rui Silva started in goal, while Aitor Ruibal, William Carvalho, Abde, and Borja Iglesias entered the fray, with Marc Roca asked to anchor the midfield alongside Guido Rodríguez and the remaining squad balance.
The opening minutes highlighted Sparta Prague’s intent and Betis’s early difficulty in matching tempo. Sparta moved the ball well and pushed Betis back, with the Czech position on Rynes alike building pressure in the left channel. Birmancevic darted into space to exploit gaps between Roca and Miranda and slid a finish past Rui Silva to give Sparta a slender lead. The goal exposed Betis’s vulnerability on the break and signaled a difficult first half for the home side. The visitors continued to press and create chances, with Tomas Wiesner testing Betis’s defense from within the box, though his finish lacked precision after a moment of hesitation in the area.
Isco Alarcón, the creative heartbeat for Betis, looked to initiate the team’s moves but found his rhythm constrained in the opening period. The visitors, however, remained unsettled by Betis’s renewed intensity after the interval. A defensive miscue from Peter Vindahl nearly altered the complexion of the game, as a misplaced clearance gave Betis a lifeline. Assane Diogo, who had already found the net early in the match, pounced again, scoring in the 9th minute to level the score with a deft finish that showed his composure. The 1-1 stalemate stood as both sides created chances and pressed for a decisive moment to tilt the balance.
Vindahl, tasked with guarding the Prague goal, remained under pressure as Betis sought to seize control. The Czech team, displaying a strong structure and rapid ball circulation, continued to threaten on the counter but found it difficult to convert against Betis’s pressing and organization. Rynes produced a rare long-range attempt that tested Rui Silva, and Haraslín created space with his runs, yet the finishing touch eluded both sides as the first half concluded with the score level.
At the break, Pellegrini reshaped Betis’s approach. Aoki? No, his decision to freshen the left wing with changes helped Betis gain a new level of intensity. Verdiblancos pressed higher and with greater frequency, and Isco found more space to influence the game. A free kick from Isco in the 50th minute showcased his execution, while Laçi of Sparta created a moment of danger with a shot that struck the post, followed by Pezzella clearing the danger from the line after Cayr? No, miscommunication led to a scramble rather than a goal. The tactical shift paid off as Betis started to control more of the ball and pin Sparta back, testing Vindahl continuously.
As the second half progressed, Betis’s offensive movement sharpened. The right and left flanks began to unlock spaces that had been stifling Betis in the first period. The match tilted decisively in Betis’s favor after several sustained attacks and a notable contribution from the substitutes who added pace and directness. The moment that decided the game came in the final stretch when Isco, now more involved in the build-up and finishing plays, delivered a precise cross that Guido Rodríguez directed toward Vindahl. The ball found its way to Isco who finished with a clinical header, placing Betis in front 2-1 with eleven minutes remaining. That decisive moment concluded a hard-fought comeback and secured Betis’s first Europa League group-stage victory.
Data sheet:
- Betis: Rui Silva; Aitor Ruibal, Pezzella, Marc Roca, Miranda (Abner, m.46); Guido Rodríguez, William Carvalho (Guardado, m.60); Assane Diao (Bellerin, m.85), Isco, Abde (Ayoze, m.46); Borja Iglesias (Willian José, m.75).
- Sparta Prague: Vindahl; Sorensen, Panak, Krejci; Wiesner (Preciado, m.60), Laçi (Sadílek, m.68), Kairinen, Rynes; Birmancevic (Pesek, m.68), Kuchta (Olatunji, m.80), Haraslín (Karabec, m.80).
- Goals: 0-1, m.3: Birmancevic. 1-1, m.9: Assane Diao. 2-1, m.79: Isco.
- Referee: Duje Strukan (Croatia). Local cautions: Guido Rodríguez (m.11), Assane Diago (m.49+), Aitor Ruibal (m.58), Abner (m.92); Haraslín (m.15), Birmancevic (m.15) and others; Rynes (m.75).
- Events: The match, played on the second day of the Europa League Group C, took place at the Benito Villamarín with a crowd of 45,037, including approximately 700 Czech supporters.