Espanyol 1-2 Real Betis Player Ratings: Abde Ezzalzouli 9/10 Rated as Visitors Snatch Dramatic 2-1 Victory

Real Betis pulled off a stunning comeback to secure a 2-1 victory over Espanyol in a thrilling La Liga encounter. This was a game defined by sheer willpower and moments of individual brilliance, and some absolute heartbreak. Espanyol looked in control after Pol Lozano's brilliant strike put them ahead early on.

However, Real Betis refused to lie down. They clawed their way back into the match, with Cucho Hernández nodding in the equalizer. Then, the game was turned on its head by a swift counter-attack, finished beautifully by Abde Ezzalzouli. The drama didn't end there, though. A late, late penalty gave Espanyol a golden chance to salvage a point.

But Pau López stood tall, producing a heroic penalty save to deny Javi Puado and seal the win for his side. It was a cruel end for the hosts, but a testament to Betis's resilience. What stood out to us was the character shown by the visitors to fight back from a goal down away from home. Here are the Espanyol vs Real Betis player ratings.

Real Betis Player Ratings vs Espanyol

Here are the Real Betis player ratings vs Espanyol.

Goalkeeper

Pau López - 8.5: An absolute hero for his team. The penalty save in stoppage time was the defining moment of the entire match. Beyond that single act of brilliance, he made four other saves, including some crucial ones inside the box. His distribution could have been a bit better, but when it mattered most, he delivered. A true match-winner.

Defenders

Héctor Bellerín - 6.5: A steady, if unspectacular, performance from the captain. He was tidy in possession with 85% pass accuracy and made a few important clearances. We noticed he didn't venture forward as much as usual. Did his job defensively without any major errors.

Natan - 7.5: What a beast at the back. The man was a clearance machine, racking up an incredible 18 of them. He dominated in the air, winning seven of his nine aerial duels. A truly commanding defensive display that gave his side the platform to build their comeback.

Ricardo Rodríguez - 7.5: Excellent performance. He provided the beautiful cross for the equalizing goal, a moment of real quality. Defensively, he was sound, winning his duels and making some key clearances. A fantastic all-round contribution from the full-back.

Valentín Gómez - 5.5: Oh, he almost cost them everything. A really mixed performance defined by that clumsy challenge to give away the late penalty. He made 11 clearances, which is good, but a single mistake of that magnitude could have undone all his team's hard work. A very shaky moment.

Midfielders

Antony - 6.5: He worked tirelessly on the flank and won most of his duels. However, from our perspective, his final product was lacking. He got into good positions but couldn't deliver the decisive pass or cross. Picked up a booking for his troubles too.

Pablo Fornals - 8.0: The creative hub for Betis. He provided the assist for the winning goal with a perfect through ball and was instrumental throughout. Unlucky not to score himself, hitting the woodwork with a great shot. His vision and passing were a joy to watch.

Abde Ezzalzouli - 9.0: Simply sensational and our man of the match. He scored the winning goal with a clinical finish after a blistering run. What stood out was his incredible work rate, winning a staggering 12 duels. He was a constant threat, a whirlwind of energy and skill that Espanyol just couldn't handle.

Giovani Lo Celso - 6.5: A busy but slightly frustrating performance. He got on the ball a lot but was dispossessed too often for our liking. Showed flashes of his quality and created one chance before being substituted. A decent shift but not his most influential game.

Marc Roca - 7.0: The unsung hero in midfield. He was the metronome, keeping play ticking over with neat and tidy passing. Also put in a solid defensive shift, making three tackles and recovering the ball five times. A disciplined and effective performance.

Forwards

Cucho Hernández - 7.5: He did what every striker is paid to do – score a crucial goal. His header to equalize was perfectly placed and timed. He was a real handful for the defenders, though he did lose possession a bit too much. His goal changed the momentum of the game entirely.

Substitutes

Rodrigo Riquelme - N/A: Came on for Lo Celso but didn't have enough time to make a significant impact.

Aitor Ruibal - N/A: Replaced Antony for the final stretch to help see out the game.

Sergi Altimira - N/A: A late sub for the brilliant Fornals.

Cédric Bakambu - N/A: Came on in injury time.

Manager

M. Pellegrini - 8.0: His team showed immense character to come from behind. He made positive changes that helped swing the game in his team's favor. The decision to keep faith in his attacking players paid off handsomely. A well-managed away victory.

Espanyol Player Ratings vs Real Betis

Here are the Espanyol player ratings vs Real Betis.

Goalkeeper

Manuel Iori - 6.0: He made one decent save but was ultimately beaten twice. From our view, he couldn't do much about either goal as they were well-taken finishes. His distribution was a bit wayward, with a low pass completion rate. An average day at the office.

Defenders

Leandro Cabrera - 6.5: He won the penalty at the death that should have earned his team a point. He was comfortable on the ball and made some important ball recoveries. However, he was part of a defensive unit that ultimately buckled under pressure and conceded two goals.

Carlos Romero - 5.5: A difficult evening for the defender. He struggled to contain the Real Betis attackers, committing several fouls and losing most of his individual duels. His crossing was also ineffective. A performance he'll want to forget.

Omar El Hilali - 6.0: Showed some promise going forward, creating two chances with some decent crosses. Defensively, however, he was exposed. He lost the majority of his duels and was dribbled past too easily. Substituted late in the game.

Clemens Riedel - 7.5: One of Espanyol's standout performers despite the loss. He provided the headed assist for the opening goal and was a rock defensively, making six successful tackles. He read the game well and was strong on the ball. A very impressive showing.

Midfielders

Javi Puado - 5.0: A captain's nightmare. Everything he did before the 90th minute is overshadowed by that penalty miss. It was a golden opportunity to be the hero and he fluffed his lines. A truly heartbreaking moment that defined his and his team's night.

Edu Expósito - 6.0: He was the designated set-piece taker but his delivery was poor, with only two of his 13 crosses finding a teammate. He worked hard but was often wasteful in possession. Didn't have the impact he would have wanted before being taken off.

Pol Lozano - 7.5: Scored an absolute stunner to give his side the lead. He looked like Espanyol's most dangerous player in the first half, full of energy and intent. We were genuinely surprised to see him substituted when he was.

Pere Milla - 6.0: He created a couple of chances but was largely on the periphery of the game. Picked up a yellow card and was substituted after an hour. A quiet performance where he failed to impose himself on the game.

Tyrhys Dolan - 5.5: A really ineffective display. He contributed very little in an attacking sense and struggled to keep the ball. Lost most of his duels and seemed off the pace. A performance to forget for the midfielder.

Forwards

Roberto Fernández - 4.5: From our perspective, he was the worst performer on the pitch. He was completely isolated and ineffective up front. He lost a staggering nine out of 13 duels and was a non-factor for the entire game. Really struggled against the Betis defence.

Substitutes

Urko González de Zárate - N/A: Came on for Milla but missed a decent chance.

Kike García - N/A: Replaced the goalscorer Lozano but couldn't find a breakthrough.

Luca Koleosho - N/A: Looked lively in his brief cameo, had a few shots.

Rubén Sánchez - N/A: On for the final few minutes.

Ramon Terrats - N/A: Late sub for Expósito.

Manager

J. González Álvarez - 5.5: His team started brightly and got the goal, but they couldn't manage the game. The decision to substitute goalscorer Pol Lozano was questionable and seemed to disrupt their rhythm. Ultimately, his side couldn't handle the pressure and collapsed in the second half.

Sportsdunia's Player of the Match is Abde Ezzalzouli