Real Betis faced off against KAA Gent on Thursday night at the Benito Villamarín, determined to secure their place in the next round of the UEFA Conference League. With the advantage of having won the first leg 3-0, the expectations were high for the hosts to navigate the match effectively.
Manager Manuel Pellegrini made several changes to his lineup, opting to rotate players due to injuries and to preserve the fitness of key individuals for the upcoming matches. Notable absences included significant players such as Giovani Lo Celso, Marc Roca, and Cédric Bakambu, all sidelined due to various injuries. Despite this, the atmosphere at the stadium was filled with anticipation as fans gathered to cheer on their team.
The match kicked off with high intensity from Betis, who quickly regained control after some initial pushes from Gent. Chimy Ávila showcased his skills early on, providing several opportunities but failing to convert them. One standout moment occurred when Ávila headed just wide after connecting with Jasper Cardoso's cross.
Gent made two substitutions around the 60th minute, bringing on Kums and Vanzeir for Da Silva and Goore, aiming to inject fresh energy to their efforts. Despite these changes, the Belgian side struggled to find the breakthrough, unable to capitalize on any of their limited chances.
The score at halftime remained at 0-0, though the home side was still assertive and confident with their aggregate lead. Pellegrini's boys had outperformed their rivals throughout the first half but were met with some resistance, particularly from Gent defenders who stood firm under pressure.
One of the most dramatic moments came from Betis’ Vitor Roque, who missed what looked to be an invitation to score, coming face-to-face with the goalkeeper only to be thwarted at the last second. The crowd’s frustration turned to excitement when they witnessed Abde’s attempts at goal, though he too faced the resoluteness of the Gent defense.
Coming up to the final moments of the game, several more substitutions were made by Pellegrini. He opted for fresh legs, including Isco and Aitor Ruibal, signaling his intent to maintain energy levels against the fatigued Gent players.
Throughout the second half, the Gent team appeared to be fighting for pride more than for progression, coming close with efforts from Ito but none were enough to disturb the scoreline. The match was characterized by brisk exchanges but always gravitated back to Betis’s favor.
The contest saw its final whistle blow, ending 0-0, which confirmed Betis’s progression to the next round with the aggregate score standing convincingly at 3-0. While both teams had their moments, Betis showed their quality overall, securing the coveted spot for the upcoming round of the tournament.
After the match, Pellegrini emphasized the importance of not taking their previous win for granted. “We prepared the team to start as if it were 0-0 today. We needed to maintain our competitive edge throughout the match,” he reflected. The Betis manager praised his squad for executing the plan effectively and highlighted the support from the fans as being instrumental.
KAA Gent’s coach, Danijel Milicevic, expressed disappointment but noted the learning curve of the encounter: “They executed their game plan well. We needed to be sharper and take our opportunities, but it didn’t happen.” His team’s fervent effort to find the net did not go unnoticed, even if the execution lacked the precision necessary to challenge Betis's aggregate advantage.
The day culminated as the Betis players left the pitch to the cheers of their fans, knowing they had confirmed their place as one of the teams to watch as they head to the octavos of the UEFA Conference League. The focus will now shift to the next round, where potential matchups could include bigger European teams such as Chelsea.
With players slowly returning from injuries and fresh talent stepping up, the outlook seems promising for the verdiblancos as they continue their quest for European glory.