Real Betis beat FC Porto 3-2 at La Cartuja after a match that was flat before the break and chaotic after it. The first half finished 0-0, then five goals arrived in the second half as Betis came from behind to take the win in Real Betis vs FC Porto. Porto also had a goal ruled out before the interval, which only added to the sense that this could have gone in several directions.

BBC Sport's live report summed it up neatly: "Real Betis come from behind to beat Porto in thriller."

The second-half swing

This game did not need long to wake up after half-time. Abdessamad Ezzalzouli put Betis ahead at the start of the second half, and it was his first Champions League goal.

Porto hit back quickly. Gabri Veiga equalised in the 54th minute, then Samu Aghehowa turned the game in the 61st after coming on in the 59th minute. For a while, it looked like Porto had recovered from the frustration of the disallowed opener and found the sharper edge in the final third.

Betis still had more to give. Cucho Hernández levelled in the 74th minute, then Isco converted the decisive penalty in the 84th after VAR confirmed the spot kick for Angel Ortiz. In a game that produced five goals after the break, Betis' last two actions in front of goal were the ones that settled it.

A Bola, in comments translated from Portuguese, captured the shift well: "Loucura em Sevilha: depois de uma primeira parte a zeros, Betis e FC Porto marcaram um total de cinco golos na segunda parte."

The VAR moment Porto will dwell on

Porto's biggest grievance came before any of the goals that counted. They had a first-half strike overturned after VAR intervened for a hand touch by Borja Sainz.

There is some messiness around how that moment was first credited in live reporting, and that is fair to acknowledge. What is clear is the final decision: the goal did not stand, and the match stayed scoreless at half-time.

That mattered to the shape of the night without needing to become an excuse for Porto's collapse later on. They still scored twice, and twice they let Betis back in. In that sense, Manuel Pellegrini's side earned the comeback rather than simply benefiting from one call.

Isco and Betis had the better finish

The best part of Betis' night was the quality of the response once they fell behind. Isco's influence went beyond the penalty, with four key passes and a 7.7 rating, while Cucho posted an 8.2 after scoring the late winner. Abde's opener gave the game its first real jolt and his all-round display was strong too.

Porto will regret leaving Seville with nothing because they had enough threat to win it. Samu made his mark almost immediately from the bench, and their 2 goals came in a spell when Betis looked open. But the home side were better in the decisive moments, and that is usually the difference in matches like this.

The final line is straightforward enough: Betis won 3-2, all five goals came after half-time, and Porto's ruled-out first-half strike will stay part of the post-match conversation.

FAQ

Why was Real Betis vs FC Porto described as a Champions League thriller?

Because the match flipped completely after the break. The first half finished 0-0, then five goals arrived in the second half as Real Betis came from behind to beat FC Porto 3-2 at La Cartuja.

What happened with the VAR decision in Real Betis vs FC Porto?

Porto had a first-half goal ruled out after VAR intervened for a hand touch by Borja Sainz. Reports differed on who was initially credited before the review, but the goal did not stand and the game stayed goalless at the interval.

Who scored in Real Betis' comeback win over FC Porto?

Abdessamad Ezzalzouli opened the scoring for Betis early in the second half with his first Champions League goal. Porto replied through Gabri Veiga and Samu Aghehowa, before Betis hit back through Cucho Hernández and Isco's late penalty.

Written by Daniel Hartley with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 4 outlets. How we work →