Real Betis drew 1-1 with Rayo Vallecano in Saturday's LaLiga EA Sports matchday 25 fixture played at the Estadio de La Cartuja. The match, which lasted 104 minutes, was dominated by two long and highly controversial video assistant referee interventions, which, according to Betis coach Manuel Pellegrini, were unnecessary. The draw halted the excellent run of three consecutive victories for the Seville-based team, which lost the chance to directly catch up with Atlético Madrid in the race for the Champions League.

Draw Ends Betis's Good Run

Betis, after three consecutive league victories, only managed a home draw with Rayo Vallecano, missing the opportunity to catch up with Atlético in the table.

Controversy Over VAR Interventions

Betis coach Manuel Pellegrini sharply criticized the video assistant referee's work for long and, in his opinion, unnecessary interruptions in play related to the assessment of two penalty situations.

Balanced and Lengthy Match

The match was very balanced and ended in a fair draw, but the playing time was extended to 104 minutes due to incident reviews.

Disciplinary Consequences

Betis defender Valentín Gómez received his fifth yellow card of the season and will be suspended for the upcoming derby match.

In Saturday's matchday 25 of the Spanish LaLiga, Real Betis drew 1-1 with Rayo Vallecano at their home stadium, Estadio de La Cartuja. The match, which was very balanced and, according to analysts, ended with a fair result, was primarily remembered for controversies surrounding the video assistant referee's work. The home team's coach, Manuel Pellegrini, did not hide his dissatisfaction after the match. „Me ha parecido que el VAR intervino muy mal, sin necesidad” (It seemed to me that the VAR intervened very poorly, without necessity) — Manuel Pellegrini. The criticism concerned two long interruptions during which the main referee, Juan Martínez Munuera, consulted with the VAR operator, González Fuertes, regarding potential penalties. The first controversial incident occurred right after the start of the second half. Rayo's Nobel Mendy brought down Betis forward Cucho Hernández right on the edge of the penalty area. Initially, the referee pointed to a foul, but after a several-minute consultation, he decided that the contact occurred outside the penalty area. The second, even longer intervention, took place in the 86th minute and concerned an alleged foul by Valentín Gómez. These two interruptions significantly extended the match, which ultimately lasted 104 minutes, drawing disapproval from fans and commentators. The statutory role of the video assistant referee (VAR) was introduced in football in the second decade of the 21st century to help main referees correct clear errors in key situations, such as penalties, red cards, or mistaken identity. Its use has sparked lively debates from the start about the balance between precision and the flow of the game. The draw meant the end of Betis's excellent streak, as they had previously achieved three consecutive league victories and were counting on another success to close in on fourth-placed Atlético Madrid, fighting for direct qualification to the <przypis title=

Mentioned People

  • Manuel Pellegrini — Real Betis coach who criticized the VAR's work after the draw with Rayo Vallecano.
  • Íñigo Pérez — Rayo Vallecano coach who praised his colleague Pellegrini before the match.
  • Juan Martínez Munuera — Main referee of the controversial Betis - Rayo Vallecano match.
  • Iván Ania — Córdoba CF coach whose team's good run was interrupted after a loss to Almería.
  • Valentín Gómez — Betis defender who received his fifth yellow card and will be suspended for the next match.