Betis suffered a 1-0 defeat at Ibrox as their Europa League group campaign kicked off in Glasgow. Rangers, full of early intensity, grew into the match and found the decisive moment in the 67th minute when Abdullah Sima fired home. The strike jolted Betis into action, but time ran short for a comeback.
Manager Manuel Pellegrini shuffled his bench in an attempt to change the tempo and inject freshness into the setup. The tweaks produced some momentum, yet the clock proved cruel for the visitors as they searched for an equaliser.
Betis now head to their next assignment with a chance to bounce back after a heavy 5-0 league defeat at Barcelona last weekend. Rangers, renowned for home dominance, presented a tougher test than the club that Steven Gerrard led to a recent title and a 2022 Europa League final, where they exited on penalties to Eintracht Frankfurt at Sevilla’s Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán.
Pellegrini’s squad began the season with strong momentum and high hopes of topping the group, now entering a slate that also features Aris Limassol and Sparta Prague. Early points are vital if they are to progress from a group that promises a demanding test across the campaign.
Rangers’ English coach Michael Beale set out with a plan to rebound from a rocky league start. He framed the match as a chance to rebuild confidence and to remind his players of the home advantage as a springboard for a positive result.
A notable moment came with Chilean goalkeeper Claudio Bravo returning to goal in form not seen since pre-season injuries, while Portuguese keeper Rui Silva offered competition as the season began. Bravo’s sharp reflexes helped deny a danger moment shortly after kickoff when Welsh forward Rabbi Matondo broke through on goal but could not finish, hesitation limiting his efforts.
Betis enjoyed extended possession in the early stages, keeping the ball for long spells in Rangers’ half. Moroccan winger Ez Abde, making his first start, provided width and pace from the left, testing Rangers’ defense and forcing questions of Jack Butland, who had to stay alert to keep the score level early on.
Abde remained a constant threat on the left, sending a dangerous cross around the 30-minute mark that triggered Rangers’ counter-pressure. A series of duels followed as Betis pressed for the breakthrough, with Bravo twice denying Sima from close range.
Sima was a constant menace after the break. His quality kept Betis in the game, as he delivered another dangerous cross that found Matondo, who could not convert, and a long-range attempt from Thomas Lawrence that went wide as the visitors pressed to convert pressure into a point. The moment that decided the night arrived when Croatian Borna Barisic curled a direct free kick into the top corner soon after the hour, hitting the crossbar before dipping into the net and changing the momentum of the match.
Lawrence’s injury shortly after the hour forced a substitution, with Dutch forward Sam Lammers coming on in a bid to lift the visitors. Betis continued pressing with Ez Abde, Borja Iglesias, and Luiz Henrique central to the buildup, while Willian José and Ayoze joined for a planned double switch in a bid to inject further punch upfront.
Despite sustained pressure and a late surge, Betis could not find the levelling goal. The visitors maintained pressure with persistent attacking play, but Rangers’ defensive organization held firm to secure three valuable points at the start of the European campaign. The result leaves Betis pondering a positive response in the upcoming fixtures to stay competitive in the group, where opportunities remain for a strong recovery in the next matches.
In summary, a match of moments tipped the balance in Glasgow as Rangers earned three points with Sima’s second-half strike, while Betis left Ibrox with a sense of urgency to regain European momentum in subsequent fixtures. [Citation: match report from official competition sources, corroborated by multiple outlets.]