Real Betis delivered a poised and professional performance at the Huvepharma Arena on Thursday, defeating Ludogorets 2-0 and bringing an end to the Bulgarian champions’ six-match unbeaten run in the UEFA Europa League. The Spanish side, led by Manuel Pellegrini, showcased their continental pedigree—securing a crucial away victory and taking command of Group D.

First Half: Ludogorets Set the Tempo, Betis Strike

Ludogorets, unbeaten in nine previous home outings, began brightly in front of a passionate crowd, nearly breaking the deadlock through Petar Stanic’s probing strike—an early warning for Betis keeper Alvaro Valles. The hosts, galvanized by recent successes, pressed forward but gradually ceded midfield control.

Betis responded with intent, Rodrigo Riquelme firing just over and Giovani Lo Celso testing Sergio Padt with a stinging drive. The breakthrough came in the 31st minute: Lo Celso—Betis’ orchestrator-in-chief—danced past two defenders and unleashed a precise shot into the far corner, giving the visitors a deserved lead and silencing the green-and-white faithful. Ludogorets threatened through Son’s free kick, which whistled narrowly wide just before the break.

Second Half: Betis Double Down, Ludogorets Falter

The second half opened with Ludogorets eager to restore parity, but their momentum evaporated after a cruel deflection. In the 53rd minute, Junior Firpo’s speculative effort appeared to be heading off target, only for Ludogorets defender Son to inadvertently redirect the ball past his own keeper, doubling Betis’ advantage.

Searching for a lifeline, Ludogorets pushed forward—Stanic again went close, blazing a promising chance over. But Betis’ discipline and composure kept the hosts at bay. Substitute Abde Ezzalzouli nearly added gloss to the scoreline, rattling the woodwork with a thunderous effort late on.

Key Performances and Implications

Giovani Lo Celso was named Man of the Match, controlling proceedings and scoring the pivotal opener that set the tone for Betis’ triumph. Meanwhile, Ludogorets—despite showing flashes of quality—suffered their first defeat of the group stage and remain winless in their last six home Europa League fixtures.

Real Betis now lead their group, extending their unbeaten run to five games across all competitions—a statement of intent in their pursuit of a Europa League knockout berth. Ludogorets, with three points after two matches, must regroup as the race for qualification intensifies.

For full highlights and video analysis of the match, see official recap provided on YouTube.

Match Details at a Glance:

• Score: Ludogorets 0–2 Real Betis
• Venue: Huvepharma Arena, Razgrad
• Scorers: Lo Celso (31’), Son (own goal, 53’)
• Man of the Match: Giovani Lo Celso (Real Betis)

A composed Real Betis march forward—Ludogorets left searching for answers as the road to the Europa League round of 16 heats up.