Real Betis strengthened their position in LaLiga’s top four with a 5-2 victory over Osasuna at Estadio La Cartuja, moving six points clear of the teams outside the Champions League places.
The result lifted Betis to third and extended their winning run at their adopted home to seven league matches. It also preserved their unbeaten sequence, with the Verdiblancos now without defeat in their past 15 LaLiga games.
Isco opened the scoring from the penalty spot after only 10 minutes. Unai Santos was penalised for catching Rodrigo Riquelme with his hand as the Betis player entered the area, and Isco sent Aitor Fernandez the wrong way before placing his spot-kick into the bottom-left corner.
It was Isco’s ninth successful penalty in 10 attempts for Betis.
The hosts continued to threaten in attack and doubled their advantage after Santos was pressured into losing possession on the half-hour mark. A fluent passing move ended with Cucho Hernandez releasing Abde Ezzalzouli, who calmly finished beyond Fernandez.
The goal continued Abde’s impressive record against Osasuna, having now scored in three consecutive meetings between the sides.
Osasuna were given a route back into the contest shortly afterwards, although their response initially appeared to make the match safe for Betis. Cucho flicked an Isco free-kick towards goal, with the ball striking Ante Budimir, then Diego Llorente, before coming back off Budimir and entering the net for an own goal.
Budimir quickly made amends. A deflection off Hector Bellerin allowed Raul Garcia to set up the Osasuna striker, who finished to reduce the deficit.
The visitors then moved within one goal five minutes later. Betis failed to clear a corner properly, allowing Alejandro Catena to send the ball across the face of goal for Raul Garcia to convert at the far post.
Betis regained control with 15 minutes remaining. A series of rebounds following another Osasuna defensive error fell to Isco, who drove the ball into the top-left corner. The goal was checked by VAR because of a possible foul by Natan on Ruben Garcia during the build-up, but it was allowed to stand.
The strike gave Isco his first brace since February 2025 and appeared to end Osasuna’s hopes of taking anything from the match.
Their away record worsened to eight defeats in their past 11 league matches, alongside one win and two draws. Betis added a fifth goal in the sixth minute of stoppage time when Jose Morante, making his debut, ran onto a through-ball from Bellerin and finished from near the edge of the penalty area.
Betis, who have lost only one of their past 17 league meetings with Osasuna – winning 13 and drawing three – face Porto on Wednesday.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Isco (Real Betis)
