By Michael Nsikan Richard – November 7th, 2025
Date : November 6th, 2025
Venue: Estadio La Carluja, Seville
Result : Real Betis 2-0 Olympique Lyonnais
Goalscorers: Ez Abde (29′), Antony (35′)
Real Betis secured a crucial and well-deserved 2-0 victory over Olympique Lyonnais at the Estadio La Cartuja in Seville last night (6th November, 2025), handing the French side their first defeat of the 2025/26 UEFA Europa League campaign.
The win was defined by a ruthless six-minute spell in the first half where Manuel Pellegrini’s side turned early promise into decisive goals, backed by a formidable defensive display in the second period.
Lyon, led by Paulo Fonseca, arrived in Seville with a flawless European record but left frustrated after struggling to break down a resilient “Green and White Wall,” especially following a double-strike by Ez Abde and the in-form Antony.
First Half Dominance: Clinical Finishing Decides the Contest
The match turned decisively in Betis’ favor during a remarkable six-minute spell in the first half. Ez Abde opened the scoring in the 29th minute, followed by Antony doubling the lead in the 35th minute.
Antony’s goal came from a deep free kick that Lyon’s defenders failed to judge properly, allowing the Brazilian forward too much time and space to loft the ball over the goalkeeper, Greif. This represented a significant moment for Antony, who had been in excellent form, coming off a brace and an assist against Mallorca in La Liga.
Lyon struggled to respond effectively before halftime, with Enzo Molebe firing a long-range effort that failed to trouble Betis goalkeeper, Valles.
Second Half Battle
The second period saw Lyon attempting to mount a comeback. Lyon made two substitutions at the start of the second half, bringing on Nicolas Tagliafico and Alfonso Moreira to replace Enzo Molebe and Abner.
The French side dominated possession, while Betis adopted a more defensive posture to protect their lead.
Despite Lyon’s possession dominance in the second half, they struggled to break down the Betis backline, with Tagliafico coming closest when his glancing effort from close range was turned wide.
The visitors pushed and pushed but could not find a way through the organized Spanish defense.
Final Verdict
This was a highly disciplined and professional European performance from Real Betis.
They demonstrated the necessary blend of defensive organization and attacking efficiency to secure three vital points, proving they are serious contenders in this competition.
Betis moved to 8 points from four matches, strengthening their position in the race for knockout qualification.
For Lyon, the result is a significant setback, highlighting their inability to recover from sudden defensive lapses and their struggles to break down a well-marshaled defense without their injured star players. They remained on 9 points but lost their perfect record.
Paulo Fonseca’s side learns from the defeat that their vulnerability persists despite their impressive start to the tournament.
NEW: Barcelona completes comeback against Oviedo
