LaLiga: Celta Vigo and Real Betis Share Spoils in Intense LaLiga Clash

Vitor Roque and Bartra Secure Dramatic Draw for Real Betis

Despite Betis's territorial dominance in the first half, they struggled to...

Real Betis secures dramatic 2-2 draw vs. Celta Vigo with Vitor Roque's equalizer and Marc Bartra's late header. Betis dominates possession but struggles to capitalize.

Real Betis secured a thrilling 2-2 draw against Celta Vigo, thanks to Marc Bartra's last-minute equalizer in the fifth minute of added time. The central defender's header rescued Betis from defeat in a match where they dominated possession and aggression.

Despite controlling the game, Betis found themselves trailing twice. Celta's Javi Rodríguez opened the scoring in the 13th minute, only for Brazilian Vitor Roque to level the score before halftime. Anastasios Douvikas then restored Celta's lead in the 82nd minute.

Borja Iglesias' return to his former club ended in a dramatic draw. Betis pushed tirelessly for victory but ultimately settled for a point. This result denied Betis their second away win of the season.

The match presented an opportunity for both teams to improve their LaLiga standings. Seventh-placed Betis had amassed seven points from their previous nine available, contrasting with their modest UEFA Conference League performance.

Celta Vigo, sitting tenth, showcased their home advantage with four wins, unlike their struggles on the road, where they managed only one win in Las Palmas and four losses.

Manuel Pellegrini revamped his Real Betis lineup, making seven changes from their European tie, and reverting to a 4-2-3-1 formation. Vitor Roque led the attack, supported by Iker Losada, Pablo Fornals, and Abde.

Claudio Giráldez's Celta Vigo started Borja Iglesias alongside Iago Aspas and Bamba. The intense match began with both teams pressuring each other's buildup play.

Despite Betis's territorial dominance in the first half, they struggled to capitalize on promising moves. Celta maintained order and threatened with rapid counter-attacks.

Celta seized their first genuine opportunity in the 13th minute. Javi Rodríguez volleyed home a rebound from Diego Llorente's lateral free kick, catching Betis off guard.

Betis, with Fornals and Vitor Roque showing promise, found it challenging to inject fluency and verticality into their play. Despite controlling possession, their efforts were blocked, including Guaita's saves from Vitor Roque and Fornals's missed header.

Vitor Roque eventually broke through five minutes before halftime, finishing precisely after Cardoso's intelligent pull-back inside Celta's box. This marked his fifth goal of the season and third in LaLiga.

Following the equalizer, Betis intensified the pressure. Guaita thwarted another Vitor Roque attempt, while Abde sent the follow-up chance over the bar.

Claudio Giráldez made a double substitution at halftime, introducing Javi Manquillo for Ristic and Ilaix Moriba for Sotelo. This tactical switch seemed to prioritize defense.

Manuel Pellegrini responded with substitutions of his own, bringing in Gio Lo Celso for Cardoso and Marc Bartra for Llorente. Despite these changes, the game's tempo remained stagnant.

Betis continued to press forward, with Iker Losada's long-range effort narrowly missing the target. Celta's Bamba had a goal disallowed for offside in the 66th minute.

Borja Iglesias received a warm ovation from the Betis faithful as he was replaced by Anastasios Douvikas. Betis's relentless offense saw Perraud test Vicente Guaita with a powerful shot, while Pablo Fornals rattled the crossbar in the 73rd minute.

Against the run of play, Celta capitalized on a swift counterattack. Douvikas scored their second goal in the 82nd minute, courtesy of Williot Swedberg's exceptional build-up play.

Undeterred, Betis fought back. In the fifth minute of added time, Marc Bartra headed in the equalizer from Chimy Ávila's cross, silencing Celta's protests for handball in the buildup.