Real Betis on cusp of Conference League progression following commanding first leg victory | OneFootball

Real Betis will fancy their chances of winning this season’s UEFA Conference League, and their bid to do so has started well. Manuel Pellegrini and his players made the tricky trip to Kosice to take on Ukrainian side FC Kryvbas, and they have emerged with a comfortable 2-0 victory.

Pellegrini made several changes to the team that drew with Girona last Thursday, and it was one of those to come into the side that scored the opening goal. The ball fell to Chimy Avila inside the penalty area, and he made no mistake the give Betis an early lead.

In the second half, Betis added a second in fine style. Rodri Sanchez drove into the Kryvbas box before curling a wonderful left-footed effort into the far corner. The 23-year-old has been linked with a move away before next week’s transfer deadline, but he delivered a fantastic performance in Kosice.

The result means that Betis are all-but through to the league phase. Pellegrini would afford himself the luxury of playing a slightly weakened team at the Benito Villamarin next Thursday.