Betis followed the set plan and defeated Aris Limassol 4-1, sealing a win that mattered for Group C in the Europa League. While the result brought relief to a squad chasing progress, a painful moment emerged as Chilean goalkeeper Claudio Bravo sustained an injury on the final shots of the match, raising concerns about his availability for the upcoming Sunday derby with Sevilla. The other first-team keeper, Rui Silva of Portugal, is sidelined, amplifying the worry around the squad’s goalkeeping depth.
The encounter featured a Betis side eager to consolidate their position and secure early qualification to the knockout rounds. Finishing top of the group would grant direct access to the round of 16, sparing them a playoff against teams entering from the Champions League, a prize that would carry significant prestige and strategic advantage.
Betis had previously achieved a win in Limassol, yet the Cypriot side resisted easily, testing the Spanish visitors. Ayoze Pérez broke the deadlock with a precision strike with about a quarter of an hour left, setting the tone for the late-game surge that followed.
Aris, coached by Belarusian Aleksey Shpilevsky, celebrated a historic advancement to Europe’s group stage for the first time this season. They had shown promise in previous legs, beating Glasgow Rangers 2-1 and narrowly losing to Betis and Sparta Prague in tight contests, fueling hopes of a further push in the competition.
Despite making eight changes for the Villamarín clash compared with the previous La Liga match against Mallorca, Betis did not take the derby lightly. The upcoming visit to Sánchez-Pizjuán loomed large, and the coach was intent on no concessions as the team sought to maximize its chances in Europe while staying prepared for the domestic showdown.
From the opening whistle, Betis dominated possession. In the early exchanges, Brazilian goalkeeper Vaná Alves stood tall, repelling efforts from William Carvalho, Rodri Sánchez, Luiz Henrique, and Ez Abde within the first ten minutes. The early pressure signaled Betis’s intent, but Aris quickly adjusted, tightening their marking and pressing higher to disrupt Betis’s rhythm, even forcing a momentary setback when Jaden Montnor’s potential goal was ruled offside.
Isco would later be remembered for a remarkable moment on the day, though the highlight reel also captured Abde’s driving runs and incisive finishing, underscoring Betis’s attacking depth. The tactical contest evolved as the home side sought to maintain control, while Aris looked to translate defense into dangerous counterpunches.
As the match progressed, Betis continued to press, and Abner Vinicius delivered a incisive pass that allowed Borja Iglesias to find the net. Iglesias had endured a drought, and this strike ended a long barren spell, much to the relief of Betis supporters. The first half closed with Betis ahead and seeking to extend their advantage after the break.
The second half unfolded with Betis looking to translate the pressure into a more decisive margin. A lifting moment arrived when Swedish forward Leo Bengtsson, following a seamless buildup, seemed to score only to have the effort ruled offside. Nonetheless, the momentum remained with Betis, and the team pressed forward with renewed energy as Aris attempted to disrupt the flow and mount a comeback of their own.
Claudio Bravo, the Chilean custodian, faced several tense moments as Aris pressed for a lifeline. Pellegrini reinforced the defense and introduced fresh legs to shore up the backline while maintaining attacking options. The coach also brought on midfielders and forwards who were slated to start in the derby, signaling a strategic tension between balancing European duties and domestic commitments.
Ayoze Pérez featured prominently as the match moved into its final stretch, with a decisive moment coming when Aitor Ruibal converted a second goal for Betis, further loosening Aris’s grip on the contest. The action intensified as the minutes ticked by, with Fekir entering the fray to add experience and creativity from the midfield, and a penalty created by Isco’s movement fizzled when the goalkeeper saved the shot, leaving the scoreline intact and maintaining Betis’s momentum.
Marc Roca then added to Betis’s tally, sealing a third goal that confirmed a comfortable lead, even as Aris pushed for late consolation. A blemish appeared when Aleksandr Kokorin, the Russian striker, found the net, but the goal did not change the outcome. Bravo, meanwhile, sustained a thigh injury that needed treatment on the field, prompting concern about his availability for the weekend return to league action.
The worry deepened when it became clear that Rui Silva would miss the Sánchez-Pizjuán fixture due to his own injury, compounding the club’s goalkeeping concerns. Still, Ez Abde’s late strike in stoppage time clinched a 4-1 victory for Betis, a result that kept their European ambitions intact and provided a cushion ahead of a high-stakes domestic derby.
In sum, the match delivered a mix of attacking intent, tactical adjustments, and timely contributions from different Betis players, all while the squad balanced European responsibilities with a focal league clash looming on the horizon. The win reinforced Betis’s standing in Group C and kept them on track for a favorable path to the knockout rounds, though injuries and the derby schedule posed clear challenges for the squad as fixtures continued to pile up.