Real Betis make powerful comeback in France to return to Champions League

Real Betis returned to the Champions League after 21 years with a comeback that turned a difficult night in France into a 3-2 victory over Lille. Marc Bartra scored twice, and Irish forward Troy Parrott completed the turnaround.

The match at the Pierre Mauroy stadium began with both teams exposing defensive weaknesses. Lille took the lead in the 12th minute when Japan's Ayase Ueda headed in a cross from Ethan Mbappé. Bartra equalized in the 33rd minute with another header, but Alexsandro Ribeiro restored Lille's advantage by heading in a corner nine minutes before halftime.

Betis continued to control much of the game but lacked precision in front of goal. Three minutes after the interval, Bartra scored his second header to make it 2-2. Parrott then put the Spanish side ahead shortly before Ethan Mbappé received a red card in the 56th minute for elbowing Brazilian defender Natan.

The meeting brought together two ambitious, evenly matched teams making their Champions League debuts this season. For Betis, it was a return to the competition more than two decades after its first appearance. The match also featured a generational contrast between the coaches: 37-year-old Italian Davide Ancelotti, making his debut with Lille, and 72-year-old Chilean Manuel Pellegrini for Betis.

Both teams had started strongly in their domestic leagues. Lille had beaten Toulouse 1-0, while Betis had defeated Real Madrid 1-0. Pellegrini made three changes, including Bartra for the injured Diego Llorente and Parrott for Cucho Hernández, while Isco Alarcón directed Betis' play with Antony and Riquelme on the wings.