Betis draws 1-1 with Rayo in controversial La Liga match

Real Betis's push for a Champions League spot stalled as they drew 1-1 with Rayo Vallecano in the 25th round of La Liga EA Sports. The match, played on Saturday, February 21, 2026, at the Estadio de La Cartuja in Seville, resulted in a share of points, but above all, a wave of controversy surrounding the work of the referees and the VAR system. Goals came in the first half: in the 16th minute, Cédric Bakambu put the hosts ahead, and in the 42nd minute, Isi Palazón equalized for the visitors. La Liga, the top division in Spain, was founded in 1929. For the 2025/2026 season, it is named La Liga EA Sports due to title sponsorship. The race for Champions League qualification is always one of the key narratives in the second half of the season. However, the main talking point after the match was not the result, but two very long stoppages caused by VAR reviews. The first and most controversial occurred immediately after the restart in the second half. Nobel Mendy, a former Betis player now at Rayo, slipped and brought down substitute Cucho Hernández in the penalty area. After several minutes of consultation with VAR operator Pablo González Fuertes, referee Juan Martínez Munuera ruled that the foul was committed just outside the penalty area and awarded only a free kick. „„Me ha parecido que el VAR intervino muy mal, sin necesidad”” — Manuel Pellegrini – said frustrated Betis coach Manuel Pellegrini after the match. The decision had significant consequences, as Mendy was already on a yellow card in this match. He did not receive a second yellow and was not sent off. The second lengthy stoppage came in the 86th minute, when VAR reviewed another potential penalty, this time for an alleged handball by Betis defender Valentín Gómez. This time, too, the referee did not point to the spot. The combined delays meant the match ended only after 104 minutes. Timeline of events in Betis - Rayo match: February 21, 16:15 — Match kick-off; February 21, 16:31 — Bakambu goal; February 21, 16:57 — Palazón goal; February 21, 17:01 — VAR controversy; February 21, 17:40 — Match ends For Betis, who had won three consecutive league matches before this game, the draw was a disappointment in the context of the fight for the Champions League. Manuel Pellegrini's team remained in fifth place, missing the chance to close the gap directly on fourth-placed Atlético Madrid. „„Un empate justo que resalta que el Betis siempre compite”” — Ángel Cuéllar – commented former Betis player Ángel Cuéllar. For Rayo, who occupy a mid-table position, the point earned is a solid result in a difficult away match.

Perspektywy mediów: Emphasizes the injustice of refereeing decisions that harmed Betis in their pursuit of sporting objectives. Emphasizes that the draw was fair, and Betis did not create enough chances to win, despite the controversies. Meanwhile, in other 25th round matches, Sevilla FC is preparing for Sunday's clash with Getafe in a very difficult situation. The club's appeal was rejected, meaning coach Matías Almeyda will begin serving a seven-match suspension. The team will be led by his assistant, Javi Martínez, at the Estadio Coliseum. Sevilla has a terrible away record – their last victory away from home came in September. On Saturday, Córdoba CF lost 2-1 to Almería, ending a run of three consecutive victories, which halted their promotion aspirations. At the same time, Real Oviedo drew 3-3 with Real Sociedad, coming back from a deficit in the final stages of the match.