At the Benito Villamarín, Real Betis ground out a hard‑fought 2-1 victory over Elche on May 13, 2026, in a La Liga encounter that kept their European ambitions alive. The home side had to dig deep after a shaky start.

First‑Half Drama

Elche, fighting to avoid relegation, stunned the crowd by taking an early lead. A defensive mix‑up allowed Elche’s striker to nip in and score from close range after just 12 minutes. Betis reacted with urgency, dominating possession but finding Elche’s deep block difficult to break down.

Second‑Half Turnaround

Manager Manuel Pellegrini’s half‑time tweaks paid off immediately. Betis levelled in the 48th minute when a sweeping move ended with a precise header from their centre‑forward. The winner arrived in the 67th minute: a thunderous strike from the edge of the box that left the Elche goalkeeper with no chance.

Standout Performers

• Betis’ midfield engine: Dictated play after the break, completing over 90% of his passes.
• Elche’s goalkeeper: Made several vital saves to keep his side in the match until the final whistle.

Table Implications

Betis climb into sixth place, strengthening their hold on a Europa Conference League spot. Elche remain in the relegation zone, now four points from safety with five games remaining.