The La Liga matchday 13 fixture between Real Betis and Girona FC, played on November 23, 2025 at the Estadio de la Cartuja (Betis’ temporary home ground due to renovations at the Benito Villamarín), ended in a hard-fought 1-1 draw.
Girona attacked first through Ukrainian striker Vladyslav Vanat in the 20th minute, capitalizing on a counter-attack assisted by Bryan Gil. Betis equalized in the 75th minute when defender Valentín Gómez headed home a precise corner from Isco, earning him the Man of the Match award for his defensive solidity and his goal.
The match turned controversial in stoppage time (90’+1) when Antony, on loan from Betis, received a straight red card for a reckless bicycle kick that struck a Girona player in the head, resulting in his suspension for the next match against Real Sociedad.
Statistically, Betis dominated with 54% possession, 23 shots (7 on target), and 8 corners, but Girona’s resilience shone through with 4 shots on target out of 11 attempts and a compact defense that frustrated the home team.
The match began with an emotional tribute to Isco from the Betis fans, celebrating his recent contract extension amidst the club’s fight for European qualification.
Impact and Consequences
This result had mixed implications for both teams in a highly competitive La Liga season.
For Real Betis (5th place, 21 points after 13 matches):
Positive: The point keeps them firmly in the fight for European qualification, now 6 points behind 4th-placed Atlético de Madrid (who won 1-0 against Getafe earlier that day).
Gómez’s goal and Isco’s assist highlighted their danger from set pieces (Betis have scored from corners in 3 of their last 5 matches), while midfielder Nelson Deossa impressed with a spectacular run that almost resulted in the winning goal, underscoring his growing importance. The draw extends their unbeaten run to 4 matches (2 wins, 2 draws), maintaining their momentum despite playing at a neutral venue.
Negative: Dropping points at home against a relegation-threatened team hinders their aspirations for a top-four finish; before the match, a win would have reduced the gap to 3 points.
Antony’s sending-off (his fourth career red card) is a major blow; the Manchester United loanee will miss a crucial match and faces potential internal scrutiny, although he publicly apologized to the fans for the red card.
Betis’s lack of clinical finishing (1.44 xG, but only 1 goal from 23 shots) exposed their persistent finishing problems, and manager Manuel Pellegrini is likely to demand more clinical converting.
More broadly: Fan frustration boiled over after the red card, with many calling it harsh (even Girona’s Michel Sánchez called it unfair, arguing that Antony intended to play the ball). This fuels the debate about the consistency of VAR, but pundits support the decision as a dangerous play precedent.
For Girona FC (18th place, 11 points after 13 matches)
Positive: A point away from home gives them a good morale boost in their fight for survival, marking their first away match without defeat this season (previously 0W-1D-6L).
Vanat’s accuracy and Gazzaniga’s 6 saves (including key stops early on) demonstrated their fighting spirit, extending their unbeaten run to 3 matches (2W-1D). This reduces the gap to safety to 4 points, with recent victories over Alavés showing signs of a turnaround under Michel.
Negative: Remaining winless away from home keeps the pressure on against relegation intense (bottom of the table, -13 GD). They generated 1.46 xG, but struggled to create chances (0 corners), relying on counter-attacks, a tactic that will not be sufficient against top-half teams in the long run. Betis’s late sending-off didn’t give them the victory, highlighting their potent attack (11 goals in 13 matches).
Overall: This result confirms Michel’s high-pressing style against superior opponents, but defensive lapses (24 goals conceded) remain a concern. Fans and analysts praised their resilience, and some publications called it a “robbery” against Betis’s dominance.
This 1-1 draw encapsulated the unpredictability of LaLiga: Betis’s control (54% possession, 32 touches in the penalty area) couldn’t overcome their wasteful finishing, while Girona’s organization earned them a deserved point despite being outshot 2-1.
For Pellegrini’s men, it’s a wake-up call: clinical precision is needed to convert dominance into victories and secure Europa League places, especially with a difficult run of fixtures ahead (for example, against Real Sociedad).
The Antony incident, while divisive (Betis fans denounce the injustice, experts confirm it), underscores the role of VAR in player safety, but risks over-penalizing a lack of style.
Girona’s draw shows they can overcome their limitations, buying time in the relegation zone, but consistent goalscoring is essential for promotion.
Overall, neither team drastically shifts gears, but the point feels like two lost by Betis and one gained by Girona in their heavy defeat in mid-November. As one analyst put it, it’s a “purgatory for both”: European dreams on hold, the shadow of relegation looming. Coming up: Betis host Real Sociedad without Antony; Girona face bottom-of-the-table Espanyol.
