UECL: Betis Overcomes Fiorentina in Dramatic Semi-Final to Face Chelsea

Real Betis reaches the Europa League final after a thrilling 2-2 draw in extra time against Fiorentina, thanks to Abde Ezzalzouli's winning goal. Read more about the match.

Real Betis reached their first European final after a dramatic 2-2 draw in extra time against ACF Fiorentina in the UEFA Conference League semi-final second leg. Abde Ezzalzouli's goal sealed the win for Betis, ending Fiorentina's hopes.

The match started rough for both teams, but Fiorentina created the first real danger when Pietro Comuzzo's header from a corner was barely hacked off the line. Despite the scrappy start, Betis managed to edge past Fiorentina with Ezzalzouli's crucial goal in extra time.

Betis's defensive struggles in corners would soon become apparent, but they took the lead in stunning fashion. Antony scored his third goal in three games with a powerful free-kick that flew past David de Gea, clipping the inside of the post before nestling in the net.

Fiorentina quickly responded to Betís's opener, equalizing just four minutes later. Robin Gosens met Rolando Mandragora's corner with a glancing header, finding the bottom corner and restoring parity. Despite Betís's Johnny Cardoso hitting the crossbar, Fiorentina took control, mirroring a similar pattern from earlier in the competition.

Fiorentina's set-piece threat continued, with Robin Gosens again scoring from a corner, this time from Yacine Adli's delivery. Betis narrowly avoided disaster at halftime when Moise Kean missed a header from just eight yards out.

The second half was marked by an intense battle between Fiorentina captain Luca Ranieri and Betís's Antony, with both players frequently clashing on and off the ball, leading to arguments and scuffles.

💚 Real Betis are European finalists 💫#UECL pic.twitter.com/KkhX7xXlv5

— UEFA Conference League (@Conf_League) May 8, 2025

The second half was marked by ill-discipline, with five yellow cards issued in a chaotic 10-minute period. Fiorentina's Robin Gosens had a notable chance, while Manchester United-bound David de Gea made a crucial double save late on to deny the hosts.

The match headed into extra time, where Betis manager Manuel Pellegrini made a tactical move by deploying full-back Aitor Ruibal as a center-forward. The gamble paid off in just seven minutes, as Ruibal's clever pass set up Antony, who then assisted Abde Ezzalzouli for the winning goal.

The dramatic winner proved sufficient for Betis to secure their spot in the final against Chelsea in Wrocław later this month.

The 2025 Conference League final is set: Real Betis vs Chelsea 🤩#UECL pic.twitter.com/ir9wQVMkEM

— UEFA Conference League (@Conf_League) May 8, 2025