In a seismic shift for Andalusian football, Real Betis have broken a six-year curse, securing a momentous 2-0 victory over arch-rivals Sevilla at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán Stadium. The triumph, their first at the hostile venue since a famous 5-3 win in 2018, was orchestrated by the brilliant Pablo Fornals and marked a significant milestone for manager Manuel Pellegrini.
Emotional Triumph Amidst Adversity
The build-up to the 144th Seville derby was fraught with drama for the visiting side. Betis were dealt a devastating triple blow in the 24 hours before the match, losing key players Isco, Giovani Lo Celso, and the suspended Nabil Fekir. The emotional weight was palpable, with Fekir breaking down in tears live on television after his appeal against a red card was rejected, lamenting missing "the most important game of the year."
Yet, as manager Manuel Pellegrini insisted, there is no 'A' or 'B' team at Betis. His words proved prophetic as the players who stepped in delivered a performance of grit and quality, culminating in a win that sent 600 travelling fans in the south-east corner into raptures and sparked jubilant celebrations long after the final whistle, which blew 20 minutes behind schedule.
Fornals's Moment of Magic Breaks the Deadlock
For long periods, the derby followed a familiar, tense script. A forgettable first half was followed by a second period interrupted for 15 minutes after objects were thrown onto the pitch, forcing both teams to retreat to the dressing rooms. The match seemed destined for a stalemate until a catastrophic error from Sevilla's Batista Mendy presented Pablo Fornals with a chance to etch his name into derby folklore.
The Spanish midfielder, once of West Ham United, seized the opportunity with a moment of sublime individual skill. Robbing Mendy, Fornals embarked on a mesmerising run, dummying left before cutting back right, leaving defenders César Azpilicueta and Kike Salas sprawling on the turf before calmly slotting past goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos.
"I've watched it back a few times," Fornals admitted afterwards. "I remembered robbing the ball but not the cutbacks and all that stuff." The goal was a masterpiece that broke Sevilla's resolve, and a late second from Sergi Altimira sealed a famous victory.
A New Era and an Inescapable Reality
The result laid bare the growing gulf between the two city rivals. While Betis could absorb the loss of star talents, Sevilla, under their seventh different coach Pellegrini has faced in this fixture, looked devoid of ideas and quality. Coach Matías Almeyda confessed to being at a loss, stating he could not publicly express his thoughts and was unsure of the solution.
The contrast is stark. Sevilla operate with the lowest salary limit in La Liga and spent nothing in the summer transfer window. Betis, meanwhile, boast strength in depth and a clear identity under Pellegrini, who had just signed a two-year contract extension. Fornals, reinvented in a deeper midfield role, epitomises this quality, with only players from Real Madrid and Barcelona providing more assists in La Liga this season.
The aftermath was one of pure joy for the green-and-white half of Seville. An emotional Fekir, watching from an executive box, later joined the celebrations on the pitch. Isco, recovering at home, posted a social media tribute to Fornals, declaring himself "at your feet." For Betis, a psychological barrier has been shattered. As Fornals put it: "We have been able to take that weight off our shoulders. This is a real high." The 'New King' of the Benito Villamarín had delivered a coronation performance where it mattered most.
