UEFA Europa League Gameweek 1
Real Betis 2 - 2 FT Nottingham Forest
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Futmetrix Verdict
100
FT
Sun, Sep 20
Manchester City
5-3
Sunderland
⚡ Intensity
100
⚖️ Balance
91
🏆 Stakes
67
🎲 Upset
0
Eight goals, hat-trick heroics, pure chaos.
Futmetrix Verdict
100
FT
Sun, Sep 20
Atletico Madrid
2-1
Real Madrid
⚡ Intensity
86
⚖️ Balance
31
🏆 Stakes
100
🎲 Upset
60
A chaotic derby flips Madrid's hierarchy.
Futmetrix Verdict
58
FT
Sun, Sep 20
Deportivo La Coruna
1-1
Real Betis
⚡ Intensity
43
⚖️ Balance
44
🏆 Stakes
56
🎲 Upset
37
Late drama denies Betis away victory.
Match Statistics
Possession
Shots
Shots on Target
Expected Goals (xG)
Passes
Pass Accuracy
Corners
Fouls
Yellow Cards
Red Cards
Match Events
15' C. Bakambu (Antony)
Igor Jesus (M. Gibbs-White) 18'
Igor Jesus (Douglas Luiz) 23'
Igor Jesus 25'
45'+1 Natan
HT
46' ↓ J. Firpo ↑R. Rodriguez
46' ↓ S. Altimira ↑M. Roca
↓ Douglas Luiz ↑D. Bakwa 46'
46' ↓ A. Ezzalzouli ↑R. Riquelme
↓ C. Hudson-Odoi ↑D. Ndoye 64'
↓ Igor Jesus ↑A. Kalimuendo 64'
72' ↓ C. Bakambu ↑Cucho Hernandez
76' ↓ G. Lo Celso ↑P. Fornals
↓ I. Sangare ↑R. Yates 81'
85' Antony (M. Roca)
↓ N. Milenkovic ↑W. Boly 90'+3
90'+4 Cucho Hernández
FT
Player Cards
Our take on every player in this match
Real Betis
Goalkeepers
Pau López 
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
Ángel Ortiz
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Natan 
MAGNET
85
Activity
85
Activity
75
Passes
10
Duels
Valentín Gómez 
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
2
Tackles
62%
Duel Win %
Junior Firpo
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
45
Total Mins
46
Entry
Midfielders
Sergi Altimira
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
45
Total Mins
46
Entry
Sofyan Amrabat
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Antony 
CLUTCH HERO
85
Goal Time
85
Goal Time
Goal
Impact
9.2
Rating
Giovani Lo Celso
LATE SHIFT
14
Late Mins
14
Late Mins
76
Total Mins
76
Entry
Abde Ezzalzouli
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
45
Total Mins
46
Entry
Forwards
Cédric Bakambu 
SNIPER
100%
Conversion
100%
Conversion
1
Goals
1
Shots
BENCH
Álvaro Vallés 
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Adrián
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Ricardo Rodríguez
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
45
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Aitor Ruibal
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Félix Garreta
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Pablo Fornals
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
14
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Rodrigo Riquelme
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
45
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Marc Roca 
SUPER SUB
1
Assist
1
Assist
45
Minutes
7.6
Rating
Ezequiel Ávila
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Cucho Hernández
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
18
Total Mins
Started
Entry
J. A. Morante
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Nottingham Forest
Goalkeepers
Matz Sels 
PROVOCATEUR
1
Fouls Won
1
Fouls Won
1
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Defenders
Neco Williams 
ARCHITECT
2
Key Passes
2
Key Passes
0
Assists
33%
Pass Acc
Nikola Milenković 
NPC
89
Minutes
89
Minutes
42%
Pass Acc
6.2
Rating
Morato
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Oleksandr Zinchenko
ARCHITECT
3
Key Passes
3
Key Passes
0
Assists
32%
Pass Acc
Midfielders
Ibrahim Sangaré
LATE SHIFT
9
Late Mins
9
Late Mins
82
Total Mins
81
Entry
Morgan Gibbs-White 
PROVIDER
1
Assists
1
Assists
1
Key Passes
6.2
Rating
Douglas Luiz
PROVIDER
1
Assists
1
Assists
1
Key Passes
6.7
Rating
Elliot Anderson
ARCHITECT
4
Key Passes
4
Key Passes
0
Assists
34%
Pass Acc
Callum Hudson-Odoi
ARCHITECT
3
Key Passes
3
Key Passes
0
Assists
19%
Pass Acc
Forwards
Igor Jesus 
HITMAN
2
Goals
2
Goals
3
On Target
8.3
Rating
BENCH
John Victor Furtado
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Willy Boly
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
1
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Nicolò Savona
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Nicolás Domínguez
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Ryan Yates
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
8
Total Mins
Started
Entry
James McAtee
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Chris Wood
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Dan Ndoye
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
26
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Arnaud Kalimuendo
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
26
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Dilane Bakwa
PROVOCATEUR
4
Fouls Won
4
Fouls Won
7
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching
Real Betis
Nottingham Forest
Real Betis
Nottingham Forest
Late Antony Heroics Salvage Dramatic Point for Real Betis
Highly Entertaining Futmetrix Score: 80/100. A breathless four-goal thriller at Estadio de la Cartuja showcased the very best of European nights, with Real Betis striking late to break English hearts.
The Opening Exchange
The Intensity of this UEFA Europa League clash was off the charts from the opening whistle at Estadio de la Cartuja. The hosts controlled possession early on, but the match quickly exploded into a chaotic eight-minute window that defied logic. C. Bakambu ignited the stadium by grabbing the opener in the 15th minute, finishing off a sharp pass from Antony. However, the celebrations in Seville were instantly silenced. Nottingham Forest launched a devastating counter-offensive, flipping the tie on its head. Igor Jesus levelled the scoring just three minutes later after a clever ball from M. Gibbs-White. Before the home supporters could process the setback, Igor Jesus struck again in the 23rd minute, capitalising on Douglas Luiz's vision to snatch the advantage for the visitors.
The Tactical Shift
Trailing 2-1, the Spanish side faced a towering task against a resolute English defence. The Balance of the tie shifted into a fascinating tactical battle. Betis edged the ball, finishing with 56% of the play, but Forest looked perpetually dangerous on the break. The away side racked up a staggering 3.27 expected goals from 16 total shots, carving through the midfield lines at will. Despite surviving the onslaught, the hosts struggled to create clear-cut chances of their own, recording just a fraction of their opponents' attacking threat with an xG of 0.49. The introduction of substitute M. Roca at the interval provided a desperate injection of urgency, as the home side pushed higher up the pitch, risking further exposure in search of a vital European point.
A Dramatic Climax
The Stakes reached a boiling point as the clock ticked down. Forest seemed destined to climb the league phase table, soaking up the pressure and looking to run down the final minutes. Yet, European nights rarely follow a simple script. In the 85th minute, the pivotal breakthrough finally arrived. M. Roca vindicated his manager's substitution, threading a precise pass into the path of Antony. The Brazilian made no mistake, delivering a clinical finish to equalise and send the crowd into a frenzy. This 2-2 draw leaves Betis sitting comfortably in fourth place within the automatic playoff spots, just four points off the leaders. Meanwhile, Forest will rue their missed opportunities to secure all three points, having to settle for 13th place as the gruelling continental campaign continues.
Key Questions
What made Antony the Man of the Match?
Antony delivered a complete masterclass, assisting the opening goal before scoring the dramatic 85th-minute equaliser to rescue a vital point for his team.
Did Real Betis deserve the late equalizer?
Statistically, Forest dominated the clear chances with a massive 3.27 xG. However, Betis's relentless late pressure and clinical finishing ultimately earned them the draw.
How did substitute Antony change the game?
Though Antony actually started the match, it was substitute M. Roca who changed the dynamic, providing the crucial late assist for Antony's decisive equaliser.
What is the Futmetrix Score?
The Futmetrix Score is our 0-100 verdict on how entertaining a match is. We look at intensity, balance, stakes, and star quality to tell you if it's worth your time.
Archive note: this preview was written after the match was played.
A European Night of Fine Margins
Skip It Futmetrix Score: 11/100. Opening nights dictate the narrative, and dropping points here could severely complicate the path to the knockout phase.
The Setup
The new UEFA Europa League format means every fixture carries weight for top-eight direct qualification. The clash at Estadio de la Cartuja on September 24, 2025, pits a Real Betis side riding a wave of momentum against a resilient Nottingham Forest. A modest Stakes rating reflects the early nature of Matchday 1, but the underlying metrics reveal a tight affair. A solid Form rating indicates both teams are finding their stride, with the Spanish hosts winning four of their last five. Meanwhile, Forest's ability to grind out results gives them a competitive Balance that will test the home side's resolve. The overall Stars rating might not be off the charts, but the presence of Antony out wide adds a spark of unpredictability for the hosts, while M. Gibbs-White pulls the strings for the English visitors.
Key Battle
The outcome hinges on a midfield war of attrition. The English visitors' central engine room must disrupt the rhythm of the Spanish hosts' playmakers. If the home side dictates the tempo, the away defense will face relentless, exhausting pressure.
Our Prediction
We expect a cagey tactical standoff rather than an open shootout. The visitors will look to absorb pressure and strike on the counter, but the hosts have enough quality in the final third to break the deadlock. A narrow 1-0 victory for the home side.