Real Betis narrowly avoided a Copa del Rey upset, defeating lower-division side Navalcarnero 3-2 in extra time during the round of 128. The match, played on Thursday, November 12, saw Betis overcome a deficit and a red card to secure their progression.
Dramatic Comeback Secures Betis’ Progress
The visitors, Real Betis, initially took the lead in the fifth minute through Riquelme, assisted by Aitor Ruibal. However, Navalcarnero mounted a strong comeback in the second half. Álvaro Leis equalised in the 49th minute, and then K. Vazquez put the hosts ahead in the 79th minute, with Leis providing the assist.
With time running out, Marina levelled the score for Betis in stoppage time, once again assisted by Ruibal, forcing the tie into extra time. Riquelme then scored his second goal of the match in the 96th minute, which proved to be the winner.
The drama continued into extra time as Isco missed a penalty for Betis in the 117th minute. Shortly after, Aitor Ruibal, who had provided two assists, received a second yellow card in the 118th minute, leaving Real Betis to finish the game with ten men. The match was played at Santo Domingo and notably did not feature VAR.
Despite the challenging circumstances, Betis dominated possession with 73%, registered 29 shots compared to Navalcarnero’s 12, and completed 864 accurate passes, highlighting their overall control of the game.
Context and What’s Next
Real Betis entered the fixture with a weakened squad, as several key players, including Valles, Marc Roca, Abde, Parrott, and Deossa, were away on international duty. Cucho Hernández was also unavailable due to injury. This victory follows a 2-0 win over Elche for Manuel Pellegrini’s side.
For Navalcarnero, the defeat brings an end to an impressive run of five matches without a loss, which included a 3-2 victory against Numancia. They will now turn their attention back to league action, hosting Getafe II in Segunda División RFEF on Sunday, November 15.
Real Betis will participate in the second round of the Copa del Rey, scheduled for December 2-4, 2026. Before that, they face a significant LaLiga fixture, visiting Sevilla on Saturday, November 21.