Betis climbed to the summit of the table after a determined 2-0 victory over Mallorca at Benito Villamarín. Willian José da Silva and Ayoze Pérez were on target, sealing the win for Manuel Pellegrini’s side, who faced a Mallorca team reduced by Omar Mascarell’s red card at halftime.
Pellegrini mapped out a plan to stretch play and win the battle for possession against Mallorca, a side renowned for its precise pressing. Juan Miranda kicked off the move in the seventh minute with a clever pass from Isco Alarcón. Willian José, arriving in the box between the lines, found space and finished with a crisp strike at the near post past Pedrag Rajković. The early strike shifted the tempo, nudging Mallorca to regroup as Betis settled into control of the pace.
From there, Betis sought to dominate the ball while Mallorca pressed aggressively to disrupt the hosts. Ayoze Pérez offered movement in front of a compact midfield quartet featuring Guido Rodríguez and Marc Roca, and Betis began to exploit spaces between the lines through patient buildup and quick transitions. Mallorca tried to respond with sporadic counterattacks, but the Betis backline stayed organized as the first half progressed.
As the half wore on, Isco grew into a more influential role, orchestrating play from the center and carving out opportunities. A notable moment saw Antonio Sánchez unleash a long-range strike that Claudio Bravo smartly parried, a save that kept Mallorca hopeful and energized their supporters. Both teams showed ambition and a willingness to take risks higher up the pitch.
Betis continued to pressure with set-pieces and crosses from the flanks, aiming for a second goal before the break. The turning point arrived just before halftime when Omar Mascarell picked up a second yellow card, leaving Mallorca a man down for the remainder of the match. The red card intensified the second half, with Mallorca defending deeper as Betis pressed to stretch the advantage.
At the start of the second half, Mallorca carried the burden of attack with ten men, while Betis sustained pressure in pursuit of a decisive margin. Aguirre adjusted and pushed for a quicker tempo, yet Pellegrini’s side maintained control, prioritizing retention and careful forward progression toward the box. The visitors remained resolute, forcing Betis to earn every moment with disciplined positioning and repeated breaks when possible.
The decisive moment came in the 63rd minute when Isco delivered a precise inside pass to Ayoze in the penalty area. Ayoze finished confidently past the goalkeeper to double Betis’ lead, sealing the game’s outcome and highlighting the combined brilliance of the creative playmaker and the forward who found the net again. The goal sparked a roar from the home crowd as Betis cemented their dominance on the night.
In the closing stages, Pellegrini gave minutes to key figures, including the long-awaited return of Nabil Fekir to competitive action. Fekir’s appearance, following a lengthy knee rehabilitation, injected fresh energy into Betis’ attack and drew enthusiastic applause from supporters who had waited months for his comeback.
With the win, Betis moved to twenty points and strengthened their European ambitions, setting up a high-stakes derby against Sevilla next weekend. The tactical balance, disciplined pressing, and effective use of pace on the wings proved decisive in a game that demanded patience and clinical finishing. The atmosphere at Benito Villamarín was electric, underscoring the club’s momentum as the season advances and the race for European places intensifies. (Movistar Futbol)
Data sheet:
2 – Real Betis: Bravo, Bellerín, Pezzella, Chadi Riad (William Carvalho, min. 68), Miranda, Guido Rodríguez, Marc Roca, Isco (Fekir, min. 87), Ayoze, Assane Diao (Luiz Henrique, min. 60) and Willian José (Abde, min. 68).
0 – RCD Mallorca: Rajkovic, Gio González (Maffeo, min. 59), Valjent (Darder, min. 46), Raíllo, Nastasic, Jaume Costa, Omar Mascarell, Samú Costa, Antonio Sánchez (Dani Rodríguez, min. 59), Larin (Morlanes, min. 82), Muriqi (Abdón Prats, min. 82).
Goals: 1-0, min. 7: Willian José. 2-0, min. 63: Ayoze Pérez.
Judge: Miguel Ángel Ortiz Arias (Madrid Committee). Mascarell was sent off for a second yellow and Aguirre’s second, Toni Amor, received a straight red. Local warnings for Pezzella (min. 1), Valjent (min. 15) and Larin (min. 35).
Events: The match from the twelfth day of La Liga EA Sports took place at Benito Villamarín in front of 50,909 spectators.