Real Betis defeated Dinamo Zagreb 3-1 in Croatia for the Europa League, nearly securing qualification to the round of 16. Manuel Pellegrini praised the match control and his team's ambition to finish in the top eight. The win follows a LaLiga defeat and highlights the Verdiblancos' strong form.
Real Betis, managed by Manuel Pellegrini, secured a comfortable 3-1 victory over Dinamo Zagreb in the sixth matchday of the Europa League League Phase, played in Zagreb, Croatia. The Seville side, coming off a 5-3 LaLiga defeat to Barcelona, dominated the game and sealed the result in the first half.
The goals came swiftly: at the 30th minute, an own goal by Sergi Domínguez made it 1-0 off a cross from Rodrigo Riquelme. Four minutes later, Riquelme extended the lead with a low shot after linking up with Cédric Bakambu. In the 38th, Antony capitalized on a Croatian defensive error to score 3-0. In the second half, Betis managed possession, with chances like Abde's post hit at 59, while Dinamo pulled one back at 89 through Niko Galešić on a free kick.
Pellegrini, in his press conference, noted: “We played a very complete match, we controlled the game's pace in the first half. We pressed well and scored three goals”. On the opponent, he said their setup did not surprise him but praised his team's pressure. He recalled the January 2024 Conference League elimination by Dinamo, when Betis had injuries and was out of Europa League, contrasting with their current strong form in LaLiga, Copa del Rey, and Europe.
With 14 points from 18 possible, Betis is well-placed for direct qualification to the round of 16, avoiding playoffs. “We qualified, but we want to be among the top eight,” stated the Chilean coach, who sees the team competitive in all three competitions. Remaining fixtures are against PAOK and Feyenoord in 2026.
