- Real Betis earned a commanding 3-0 away win against Gent in the first leg of their Europa Conference League playoff
- Manchester United loanee Antony scored his first European goal for Betis, his second goal in three games
- Betis took a major step toward the Round of 16, with Gent facing a tough challenge in the return leg
Key Takeaways:
Real Betis secured a crucial 3-0 win over Gent in the first leg of their UEFA Europa Conference League playoff tie. The Sevilla-based side delivered a strong second-half performance, putting themselves in a favourable position ahead of the return leg at home next week.
The first half saw an evenly contested battle, with the hosts creating more goal-scoring opportunities. Gent thought they had taken the lead through Andri Gudjohnsen, but the goal was ruled out for offside.
Antony keeps his 𝑭𝑨𝑩𝑼𝑳𝑶𝑼𝑺 𝑭𝑶𝑹𝑴 going for Betis 💚🇧🇷 pic.twitter.com/6asmQaSv2Y
— 433 (@433) February 13, 2025
Betis raised their intensity after the break and quickly took control. In the 47th minute, Antony found space outside the penalty area and struck a low diagonal shot past the goalkeeper to open the scoring. The Manchester United loanee recorded his first European goal for Betis and continued his strong start at the club, netting his second goal in three games. He had previously been voted Man of the Match in his first two appearances.
The visitors thought they had doubled their lead in the 63rd minute when Ez Abde found the net, but the goal was disallowed due to a handball in the buildup. However, Betis did not have to wait long for their second goal. In the 71st minute, they capitalized on a mistake in Gent’s build-up play, winning possession near the penalty area. Isco set up Cédric Bakambu, who finished clinically to make it 0-2.
The Spanish side sealed the victory in the 84th minute. A corner kick found Bakambu, who flicked the ball on with his head, allowing Sergi Altimira to score at the far post and make it 0-3.
After the match, Antony shared his feelings about his early success at Betis: “In my heart, I knew that I would be very happy at Betis, I was sure about that.” He also dedicated the victory to the club’s supporters: “This win goes for the fans, they never stop supporting us.”
With this result, Betis made a major step toward qualification for the Round of 16, while Gent faces a difficult challenge to overturn the deficit in the second leg. The winner of this tie will face either Chelsea or Vitoria Guimaraes in the next stage.