Real Betis held off Elche 2-1 at Estadio La Cartuja to secure a vital win, with Pablo Fornals' second-half strike proving decisive despite the visitors playing most of the match with ten men.
Real Betis climbed to fifth place in La Liga with this hard-fought victory over Elche. Betis entered the match in good form, sitting on 54 points from 35 games. Elche, meanwhile, occupied 14th place with 39 points and needed a strong finish to their season.
The home side started brightly and took the lead in just the ninth minute. Cucho Hernández struck first, giving Betis an early advantage at the Seville stadium. The Colombian forward's early goal set the tone for an aggressive opening from the hosts.
Elche responded well despite falling behind. The away team pushed forward with purpose and found their equalizer in the 41st minute. Héctor Fort fired past the Betis goalkeeper to level the score heading into the break.
The match shifted dramatically early in the second half. Elche defender Lautaro Petrot received a red card in the 49th minute, leaving the visitors down to ten men. This numerical advantage changed the tactical landscape considerably.
Betis took full advantage of their extra man. Pablo Fornals restored the home side's lead in the 68th minute with a clinical finish. The midfielder's goal proved to be the winner, giving Betis breathing room with over twenty minutes remaining.
Elche battled hard despite their disadvantage but could not find another breakthrough. The away side managed just two shots on target throughout the entire match. Betis controlled the closing stages, with several players receiving yellow cards as the game became increasingly scrappy.
The statistics told the story of Betis' dominance. Betis registered 16 total shots compared to Elche's nine, with seven shots on target to the visitors' two. Expected goals heavily favored the home team at 1.52 to 0.51.
Fornals was named the standout performer, earning a rating of 8.3 and recording both a goal and an assist. Cucho Hernández also impressed with a goal and three shots on target despite playing with ten teammates for most of the second half.
This victory keeps Betis' push for European qualification on track. The win moves them closer to the top four as the season enters its final stages. Elche's playoff hopes suffered a setback, though they remain within striking distance of safety.
