Real Betis claimed a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Levante at Estadio de La Cartuja, with Pablo Fornals scoring the decisive goal in the 68th minute to secure three crucial points.
Real Betis entered the match sitting fifth in La Liga with 57 points from 37 games. Levante occupied 15th place with 42 points, desperate to climb away from the relegation battle. Betis arrived in decent form with one loss in their last five matches, while Levante had won three of their previous four games.
Betis made a perfect start at home. Just five minutes in, Abdessamad Ezzalzouli fired the hosts ahead with a clinical finish. The early goal gave the home side confidence and control of possession.
Levante responded with growing intensity as the first half progressed. They created chances and pressed higher up the pitch. The visitors earned seven corner kicks in the opening 45 minutes, showing their attacking intent.
The pressure paid off just before halftime. Carlos Espí equalized in the 45th minute, drawing Levante level and restoring belief in the visiting side. The goal came at a crucial moment, denying Betis a commanding advantage heading into the break.
The second half began with both teams searching for the decisive goal. Betis controlled possession with 65 percent of the ball but struggled to break down a stubborn Levante defense.
In the 68th minute, Fornals restored Betis's lead with a crucial strike. The midfielder's goal proved decisive, giving the hosts the advantage they would not relinquish. Levante pressed for an equalizer but could not find another breakthrough.
Levante's frustration grew as the match wore on. The visitors picked up three yellow cards in the second half, including bookings for Javi Toljan and Luis Castro. Betis managed the game effectively in the closing stages.
The statistics reflected Betis's control. They recorded 18 total shots compared to Levante's 14, with eight shots on target versus six. Betis dominated possession and completed 615 passes with 91 percent accuracy. Goalkeeper Adrián made five crucial saves to preserve the win.
Ezzalzouli earned a rating of 7.7 for his opening goal and creative play. Fornals also impressed with a 7.3 rating after his match-winning effort. Espí led Levante's efforts with a 7.5 rating despite the defeat.
The result moved Betis to 60 points with one game remaining in the season. Levante remained in 15th place with 42 points, still fighting for survival in La Liga's closing stages.
