Isco’s 59th-minute penalty proved decisive as Real Betis defeated Feyenoord Rotterdam 1-0 at Estadio La Cartuja on Wednesday, maintaining their perfect start to the UEFA Champions League league phase.
Betis carried the greater attacking threat despite having less possession, finishing with 23 attempts and 10 shots on target. Feyenoord enjoyed 52.7% of the ball but registered only two efforts on target from 12 attempts, leaving the visitors without the equaliser they needed.
Goalless first half leaves the contest open
Neither side found a breakthrough before the interval, with the teams heading into the dressing rooms level at 0-0. Feyenoord defender Mika Mármol received the first booking in the 14th minute, while Charles Vanhoutte joined him in the referee’s notebook seven minutes after the restart.
The decisive moment arrived shortly before the hour. Awarded a penalty, Betis turned to Isco, who converted in the 59th minute to put the hosts ahead.
Betis protect their narrow advantage
That single goal was enough. Feyenoord could not translate their greater share of possession into an equaliser, and Betis preserved their clean sheet through five minutes of second-half stoppage time. Rodrigo Riquelme’s 86th-minute yellow card was the hosts’ only booking.
The final statistics underlined the difference in attacking output. Betis produced almost twice as many attempts as Feyenoord and five times as many shots on target, although the teams finished level on four corners apiece.
Three wins from three for Betis
The victory takes Betis to nine points from their opening three league-phase fixtures, with three wins and no defeats. Feyenoord, meanwhile, have three points following one victory and two losses.
For all Betis’ shooting volume, this was a fixture settled by one penalty. Isco supplied the breakthrough in the 59th minute, and the hosts made it count for another valuable European victory.
