Bartra and Parrot fire Betis to 3-2 comeback win at Lille in Champions League return
Real Betis marked their return to the Champions League after 21 years with a 3-2 victory at the Pierre-Mauroy. Marc Bartra scored twice and Troy Parrot added the winner as the Spanish side twice came from behind against Lille. Ethan Mbappé was sent off in the second half as the hosts chased an equaliser.
ByNatilla5 min read
Real Betis heard the Champions League anthem for the first time in 21 years and marked the occasion with a hard-fought 3-2 victory at the Pierre-Mauroy. Manuel Pellegrini's side twice came from behind against Lille, with Marc Bartra scoring twice and Troy Parrot netting the winner. Ethan Mbappé's second-half red card made the task easier for the visitors, who collected three valuable points on their return to Europe's top club competition.
- Marc Bartra scored twice from set pieces and was Betis' standout performer.
- Troy Parrot produced a composed finish to seal the 3-2 victory.
- Ethan Mbappé received a straight red card for an elbow on Natan during the winning goal celebration.
- Lille had led through goals from Ueda and Alexsandro before Betis turned the game around.
A dream Champions League return after two decades away
Betis had not featured in Europe's premier club competition since the 2005-06 season. More than two decades later, the Andalusian supporters sang the Champions League anthem again with a team built steadily under Pellegrini's guidance. The opening night could hardly have gone better: three points away from home and a clear signal that this Betis side is ready to compete at the highest level in Europe.
Pellegrini reshuffles his lineup after beating Real Madrid
Despite the 1-0 LaLiga win over Real Madrid, the Chilean coach made four changes to his starting eleven. The only forced change was Marc Bartra coming in for Diego Llorente, who has a fractured nasal bone. The other three were tactical decisions: Junior Firpo, Rodrigo Riquelme and Troy Parrot replaced Fran García, Marc Roca and Cucho Hernández.
The left flank drew particular attention, with Firpo handed the difficult task of containing Tiago Santos and Ethan Mbappé, Kylian's younger brother. A combination between those two Lille players led directly to the opening goal.
A first half of swinging momentum and set-piece goals
Betis started brightly in France but were punished after the 10th minute. Santos found space behind Firpo and delivered a cross to the far post, where Ueda arrived unmarked to smash the ball past Álvaro Valles. The Japanese striker, signed from Feyenoord on transfer deadline day, was scoring his second goal in two games for Lille.
The Andalusian side stuck to their plan, exploiting the space between the French defence and midfield through Isco and, above all, Riquelme. The equaliser came from a dead ball: Pablo Fornals delivered a measured corner and Bartra arrived like a train to head home the 1-1.
No sooner had Betis drawn level than Lille struck again in a near-identical move. Another corner, this time swung in by Perrin, was headed into the net by centre-back Alexsandro. Betis could have levelled before the break, but Parrot fired wide with the goal at his mercy.
Seven second-half minutes that turned the match
The restart brought a complete shift in momentum. Within just seven minutes, Betis went from trailing to leading. Bartra struck first, glancing in a free-kick masterfully delivered by Isco to make it 2-2. Then Parrot finished coolly past Ozer to complete the comeback and put the visitors 3-2 up.
The Irish forward's goal had extra consequences for Lille. During the celebration, Ethan Mbappé elbowed Natan and Bulgarian referee Kabakov, after checking the VAR, showed him a straight red card. The French side faced more than half an hour with ten men.
Giroud and Lille's late push with ten players
Even with a numerical disadvantage, Davide Ancelotti's side refused to give in, roared on by a passionate home crowd at the Pierre-Mauroy. Olivier Giroud, at 39 years old, came off the bench to try to rescue a point. The veteran French striker came close to an equaliser in the 82nd minute, one of the last big chances of a match Betis endured until the final whistle.
What this victory means for Betis in the Champions League
The win in Lille gives Betis three points after the opening round of the Champions League league phase. Under the tournament's new format, every victory is vital in the race for a top-eight finish and direct qualification for the round of 16, while avoiding the knockout playoff stage. Starting with an away win strengthens the Andalusian side's position ahead of a demanding schedule that includes Atlético de Madrid, Milan and Tottenham.
Frequently asked questions about Lille vs Betis in the Champions League
Frequently asked questions
How many goals did Marc Bartra score against Lille and how did they come?
Marc Bartra scored twice at the Pierre-Mauroy. His first goal came from a Pablo Fornals corner, while his second was glanced in from a free-kick delivered by Isco. Both strikes levelled the match before Troy Parrot netted the winner.
Why was Ethan Mbappé sent off in Lille vs Betis?
Ethan Mbappé, brother of Kylian Mbappé, received a straight red card in the 56th minute. Referee Kabakov dismissed him after a VAR review for elbowing Natan during the celebration of Troy Parrot's goal that made it 3-2 to Betis.
How long had Real Betis been away from the Champions League?
Real Betis had been absent from Europe's premier club competition for 21 years. Their previous appearance dated back to the 2005-06 season, so the match against Lille at the Pierre-Mauroy marked their return to the Champions League.