Real Betis secured a hard-fought 2–1 victory over Elche at Estadio de La Cartuja in LaLiga Round 36, pulling away late after a match shaped by key moments and a decisive red card.
Cucho Hernández gave the hosts an early lead, Héctor Fort restored parity before halftime, and Pablo Fornals ultimately delivered the winner in the second half.
Elche’s Léo Pétrot was sent off after the break, a turning point that allowed Betis to take full control.
Betis made a bright start and broke the deadlock in the 9th minute when Fornals threaded a precise pass for Hernández, who finished confidently with his right foot.
Elche responded just before halftime, with Germán Valera’s delivery picking out Héctor Fort, who calmly converted to make it 1–1.
The decisive moment arrived in the 68th minute. Fornals stepped up again on the edge of the box and unleashed a driven right-footed strike past Matías Dituro, restoring Betis’ advantage and sealing what proved to be the match-winning goal.
Elche’s hopes faded early in the second half after Pétrot was shown a straight red card in the 49th minute.
Reduced to 10 men, Eder Sarabia’s side were forced deeper as Betis steadily increased pressure.
From that point, the hosts dominated territory and chances, outshooting Elche 13–5 after the interval and registering six shots on target to none.
Manuel Pellegrini’s side controlled possession more effectively as the game progressed, with their 4-3-3 structure winning duels higher up the pitch and allowing quicker ball circulation.
A clear 7–1 advantage in corners further reflected Betis’ dominance in the final phases, while late cautions came as they managed the closing stages comfortably.
Pablo Fornals was the standout performer, combining a goal and an assist for a Sofascore rating of 8.2.
Cucho Hernández also impressed with an 8.0 rating, contributing five shots and an expected goals figure of 1.01, including an effort that struck the woodwork. Antony added energy on the right flank, earning an 8.0 with his direct running and defensive work.
At the back, Diego Llorente was solid with 10 clearances and strong aerial presence for a 7.3 rating, while Héctor Bellerín contributed in both phases with two key passes.
For Elche, Germán Valera and Gonzalo Villar both earned 7.1, with Valera providing the assist, while goalkeeper Matías Dituro made three saves but could not prevent defeat. Pétrot’s dismissal ultimately proved costly in a match that slipped away from the visitors after the interval.
