Real Betis 2–1 Levante | La Liga | 23 May 2026

Result Summary

Real Betis secured all three points at home, defeating Levante 2–1 in a contest that featured an early opener, a late first-half equaliser, and a decisive second-half strike from Pablo Fornals Malla. Manuel Pellegrini's side held firm in the closing stages despite sustained Levante pressure, ultimately justifying their dominant possession statistics on the scoreboard.

Match Analysis

Real Betis were quick out of the blocks, with Abdessamad Ezzalzouli breaking the deadlock as early as the 5th minute with a right-footed finish. The early goal allowed Betis to settle into their game, and the statistics reflect that comfort — they controlled 64% of possession and completed passes at an impressive 91% success rate.

However, it was not a straightforward afternoon for Pellegrini's men. Levante, despite their 36% possession share, proved threatening on the counter, registering 44 dangerous attacks compared to Betis's 26 — a telling figure that highlights how Luís Castro's side exploited space in behind. That threat materialised right at the stroke of half-time, when Carlos Espí Escrihuela converted a right-footed effort in first-half stoppage time, assisted by Pablo Martínez, to restore parity and ensure an even contest heading into the break.

The first half wasn't without controversy — Antony Matheus dos Santos was cautioned in the 22nd minute for simulation, adding an unsavoury element to Betis's performance, while Levante's Kevin Arriaga was booked for a foul in the 37th minute.

Levante made a bold double substitution at the start of the second half, introducing Oriol Rey Erenas and Tai Abed, signalling Castro's intent to change the dynamic. Betis responded by bringing on Giovani Lo Celso for Isco in the 54th minute, and the shift in personnel appeared to sharpen the home side's attacking play.

The decisive moment arrived in the 68th minute, when Pablo Fornals Malla rifled home a left-footed effort to restore Betis's lead. The goal came shortly after Levante's Jeremy Toljan had been booked for a foul in the 66th minute, and an unknown Levante player was cautioned in the 71st minute for dissent — a sign of growing frustration in the visiting camp. Despite Levante's 8 corners to Betis's 4, and a respectable 7 shots on target, they could not find a second equaliser. Betis's final shot tally of 18 total and 8 on target underlined their overall threat going forward.

Prediction Review

Our pre-match forecast of a 1–1 draw did not materialise, with our model assigning only a 44% probability to a Betis home win — ultimately the correct outcome. With a confidence rating of just 58/100, the model acknowledged significant uncertainty, but still leaned marginally toward the draw. In hindsight, Betis's territorial and technical dominance — reflected by possession, passing accuracy, and shot volume — was a stronger indicator of their winning potential than the forecast captured. Levante's high dangerous attack count added a layer of unpredictability that made this a genuinely difficult match to call.

Key Takeaways

• Ezzalzouli's early goal set the tone, but Betis were forced to dig deep after Levante's stoppage-time equaliser.
• Fornals Malla's decisive finish in the second half proved the difference and was the defining moment of the match.
• Levante's 44 dangerous attacks serve as a reminder that raw possession statistics do not tell the whole story of a match.
• Four yellow cards for Levante in the second half underlined the pressure and frustration they faced as the game slipped away.