UECL: Real Betis Holds Off Jagiellonia, Reaches Semi-finals

Real Betis reaches the UEFA Conference League semi-finals after a 1-1 draw with Jagiellonia Białystok, securing a 3-1 aggregate win.

Real Betis advanced to the UEFA Conference League semi-finals for the first time after a 1-1 draw with Jagiellonia Białystok, securing a 3-1 aggregate win. A strong 2-0 victory in the first leg had given Betis a significant advantage, but Jagiellonia's unbeaten home record in the competition made the second leg a challenging affair.

The first half ended with Real Betis' two-goal advantage intact, which would have pleased Manuel Pellegrini. The period was marked by a lack of clear-cut opportunities, with players like Pablo Fornals, Antony, and Romain Perraud missing the target. 

Real Betis hold on to book a place in the semi-finals 👏#UECL pic.twitter.com/D0vXKLB53x

— UEFA Conference League (@Conf_League) April 17, 2025

Jagiellonia had moments, including a disallowed goal by Kristoffer Hansen for offside just before halftime, which seemed to dampen the hosts' momentum. A promising cross by Jesus Imaz that evaded Darko Churlinov and Hansen was one of the best chances of the half.

After halftime, Real Betis controlled the game with ease, absorbing Jagiellonia's pressure and looking to capitalize on counter-attacks. Giovanni Lo Celso had a chance to seal the win but curled his shot narrowly over the crossbar. Cedric Bakambu all but ended the contest with a close-range finish into the roof of the net. Although Darko Churlinov scored a composed equalizer for Jagiellonia, Betis' lead seemed insurmountable.

With the 1-1 draw, Betis advanced to the semi-finals, where they'll face Fiorentina in a matchup between two pre-tournament favorites. The Spanish side have now gone unbeaten in their last six matches across all competitions.

Jagiellonia can take immense pride in their historic run in their first-ever UEFA competition campaign. Despite exiting the Conference League, they still have a chance to achieve domestic success, with a second consecutive Polish Ekstraklasa title within reach.