Betis survives Espanyol's onslaught with López's heroics in stoppage time

Très Divertissant Score Futmetrix: 76/100. In a crunch match of relentless intensity, Betis overturns an early deficit to cement fourth place, while Espanyol's dominance goes unrewarded in a six-pointer that slipped away.

Early blow, then the comeback

Espanyol struck first with clinical precision. Pol Lozano capitalized on C. Riedel's assist in the 15th minute to make it 1-0, an early statement that seemed to set the tone for a comfortable afternoon at RCDE Stadium. With 50% possession and 14 shots, the hosts exerted constant pressure, fueled by 10 corners that pinned Real Betis back throughout the opening exchanges.

Yet Betis refused to be spectators. The balance shifted dramatically in the second half when Cucho Hernández equalized in the 54th minute off R. Rodríguez's pass. Nine minutes later, Abdessamad Ezzalzouli completed the turnaround with the 2-1 goal, Pablo Fornals providing the assist. The momentum swung decisively in just 17 minutes.

López's 100th-minute masterclass

With Betis ahead, Espanyol pressed for an equalizer. The stakes remained sky-high when in the 100th minute, Leandro Cabrera was brought down in the box. VAR confirmed the penalty. But Pau López, Betis' goalkeeper, delivered a moment of pure redemption—denying the spot-kick to seal a 2-1 victory in injury time, emerging as the match's defining figure with 4 saves and one unforgettable intervention under maximum pressure.

26 combined shots, 15 corners, three lead changes, and a 100th-minute penalty told the story of a wild afternoon. Espanyol dominated statistically (83% pass accuracy), but Betis executed with lethal precision. The visitors move to 15 points in fourth; Espanyol remain ninth with 12, trapped in an inconsistent run (LDDLW) that keeps them outside European contention.