Manuel Pellegrini’s Real Betis side have gone six wins in a row in La Liga, having continued that superb win with an intense victory over city rivals, Sevilla FC.
As the heavily tattooed and topless Ezequiel Ávila, embraced by Marc Bartra, stands on the advertising boards and screams into a sea of green, Antony is sitting on the shoulders of former Liverpool keeper Adrian, as he waves a gigantic flag.
The Béticos look in a delirious dreamland as they unleash their celebrations and ‘Freed from Desire’ pumps through the stadium. The atmosphere inside the Estadio Benito Villamarín is electric.
Real Betis have beaten Sevilla to win their first El Gran Derbi in six and a half years.
But this wasn’t just a flash-in-the-pan result for Betis. The celebrations are also for an accumulation of a run of incredible form. Six victories in a row. They’re on the edge of another season of European football.
But it hasn’t always been plain sailing.
Real Betis’ sticky early season form
When, six minutes into the first game of the season, Marc Batra’s bullet header gave them a lead against Girona, Béticos would’ve been hoping for the best.
By the end of matchday 15, Real Betis were languishing in mid-table. They had 20 points from 15 games and a minus-two goal difference.
They tasted defeat to Real Madrid, Mallorca Valencia, Real Sociedad, and arch-rivals, Sevilla.
Manuel Pellegrini’s men were performing well in the UEFA Europa Conference League. But their opposition in that continental competition couldn’t compare to the sides they were facing in La Liga.
Real Betis’ form did slowly change and as the weeks went by it became more and more apparent as to why.
Who are Manuel Pellegrini’s star players?
Moments before kick-off Sunday’s El Gran Derbi two La Liga awards were handed out to rapturous applause. Pellegrini lifted the Manager of the Month trophy and, rather more poignantly, the Player of the Month award was raised by Isco Alarcón – simply known as ‘Isco’
The attacking midfielder has had a mixed career. Sensational at Malaga and his early Real Madrid days, he was later bombed out of Betis’ cross-city rivals before signing for Los Verdiblancos.
He’s an iconic player. And now he’s back to full fitness, he’s an effective one too. The chief creative force through the centre of Pellegrini’s midfield, Isco has picked up four goals and three assists in the six-game winning run, including the set-up for the derby’s winner.
The Spaniard is the key cog in a now-functional attack. But he’s not the only star.
The January loan signing of Antony might’ve been derided by certain fanbases. But the Brazilian winger has taken to La Liga like a duck to water. Two goals and two assists in just under 700 La Liga minutes is one thing, but the creative drive he’s brought to the Betis right flank offers more than just goal involvement stats. They have an effective outlet ball and someone who can carry the ball through the thirds. Antony is in superb form.
Equally, the emergence of Jesus Rodriguez on the left wing balances out the widths. The 2005-born winger was born in the city and developed through the club’s academy. His only goal involvement came on January 18th, a goal in the 1-3 defeat to Deportivo Alaves. But he has become a regular starter for Betis.
He possesses a quick turn of pace and an attacking drive that gets Betis up the pitch.
The final piece of the attacking puzzle was brought in in January, and he’s been the starting centre forward for the winning run.
Juan Hernández, also known as ‘Cucho Hernández‘, is a Colombian striker that Real Betis signed for a reported $16m from Columbus Crew. A physically adept forward, he’s also clever in the build-up play and a smart shooter when given the right opportunities.
His Betis debut came in the 3-0 victory over Real Sociedad. It took five games before the former Watford striker would score, but when he did… They were iconic moments.
It’d be unfair to not mention many other cogs within Pellegrini’s machine. Marc Bartra, Johnny Cardoso, Diego Llorente, Sergi Altimira, Cedric Bakambu and Pablo Fornals, amongst others, have played key roles in different games.
Real Betis’ six-game winning run
Winning six games in La Liga in a row is a mighty impressive feat.
The run started with a big-time victory over Real Sociedad; the 3-0 match saw Antony on top form as he scored and assisted.
Isco hit a brace against Getafe in the following 2-1 victory, one being a penalty and the other a delightful twist and flick from an Antony pass.
Next came the two biggest games, not only of this run but of the entire season. Real Betis welcomed Real Madrid to the Estadio Benito Villamarín but within 10 minutes Brahim Diaz had given the visitors the lead. But this side would not just roll over against their title-chasing rivals.
From an Isco corner, Johnny Cardoso powered a header home, and then in the second half Antonio Rüdiger felled Jesus Rodriguez in the box, gifting the hosts a spot kick.
Isco would make no mistake up against his former side. He powered his right-footed penalty past Thibaut Courtois to make it 2-1 and that’s how the game ended.
A 1-0 victory over Las Palmas followed, with the only goal of the game coming from Diego Llorente.
At half-time against Leganes, Béticos would’ve been forgiven for thinking their winning run was about to come to an abrupt end. They were 2-0 down to the Madrid side despite having the better of the first-half momentum.
The second 45 was a much different story, however. Cedric Bakambu won a penalty from the keeper, which Isco calmly dispatched before Marc Bartra unleashed a rip-roaring shot that fell kindly to Bakambu to tap home the rebound. The 18-minute comeback was completed in the 82nd minute when Cucho scored his first goal for the club.
And as you’d expect, it involved their three key men. Antony tore down the left flank and lifted a ball into the box for Isco, who uncharacteristically failed to completely control the cross, this allowed Cucho the opportunity to spark a first-time volley into the back of the net.
The scenes in the away end at Butarque were of delight and delirium.
They were topped a couple of weeks later, however…
How did Real Betis win El Gran Derbi?
‘It was a perfect night for everyone’, says Cucho Hernandez with a beaming smile.
I suppose scoring the winning goal in your team’s biggest game of the season would lead to quite the celebration. Cucho, joined by his topless compadres of Avila and Antony, seemed to thrive in the chaotic yet glorious atmosphere.
58,538 fans were packed into Betis’ home, with a small contingent of Sevilla supporters up in the far corner. It was an ocean of green and white for one of the most passionate derbies on the planet.
But even in this game, they made it hard for themselves.
Reuben Vargas opened the scoring for the visiting Reds after 17 minutes. He latched onto a Dodi Lukebakio pass to fire home at Adrian’s near-post.
The adoring locals didn’t have to wait long for an equaliser, however. Isco rolled the ball to Pablo Fornals who slid a forward pass for the on-rushing Youssouf Sabaly. The Senegalese right back looped his cross into the box, primed for any late-arriving midfielders to greet. Johnny Cardoso was just that man. The USMNT international leathered a first-time volley into the bottom corner to send the Betis limbs wild and level up the scoreline.
Real Betis’ winner would come just before half-time. The third minute of first-half stoppage time.
Jesus Rodriguez floated in from the left flank and found a clever ball to the roaming Isco. The Spanish attacking midfielder needed only one touch to completely unlock his former side’s backline. A gentle, yet perfectly weighted, first-time through ball expertly played Cucho in between the central defenders and in on goal.
The Colombian, too, needed only one touch. He beat Ørjan Nyland to the ball and prodded it into the back of the net.
Passion poured from the stands.
Where does that place Real Betis now?
Other than being second in the La Liga form charts to FC Barcelona, who are unbeaten in 2025, Betis have developed a nice buffer between them and the non-European qualifying spots.
They sit sixth, only six points off of the UEFA Champions League spots. Finishing sixth would equate to qualification back to the UEFA Conference League, although they are on level points (but played a game extra) with Villarreal. The Yellow Submarine are in fifth, AKA the UEFA Europa League spot.
Finishing in any of the top six would class as a decent season for Betis, and it’d be one spot up from the 2023/24’s seventh place.
Couple European football with their current form and suddenly Real Betis could become a favoured destination for summer arrivals.
Antony is unlikely to be available on a permanent signing, but his impressive loan spell has showcased the club has a dynamic place that players can flourish in.
The tough fixtures don’t stop at Real Madrid and Sevilla for Betis. Up next they face table-topping FC Barcelona, who will not want to lose their own unbelievable winning run.
They follow that up with a key clash with Villarreal where the winner might occupy the fifth position in La Liga.
If they can continue this form, Champions League qualification for the first time since 2005 is certainly not off the table.