Romero Saves Sevilla Late as Betis Drop Two Goal Lead

The Seville derby delivered its usual chaos and edge on Sunday night, as Real Betis threw away a two-goal advantage to draw 2-2 with Sevilla in a fiery LaLiga Round 26 clash at Estadio La Cartuja de Sevilla.

Betis started with the kind of hunger that turns a derby into a statement, and they were rewarded early. In the 16th minute, Antony pounced from close range to fire the hosts ahead, capping a bright opening spell that had Sevilla scrambling to settle.

The tempo stayed high, tackles flew in, and the referee Ricardo De Burgos Bengoetxea had his hands full as both sides battled for every second ball. Betis, though, were the sharper unit in the first half and doubled their lead in the 37th minute. Abde Ezzalzouli slid a clever pass into Alvaro Fidalgo, who finished with authority to make it 2-0 and send the green-and-white half of the stadium into full voice.

At the break, Sevilla had plenty of the ball but too little bite. Betis had the cushion and, for a time, the control.

Sevilla’s response arrived after the restart, sparked by changes and a more direct approach down the flanks. The visitors finally got a foothold and pulled one back in the 62nd minute when Alexis Sanchez rose to meet a cross from Oso, powering a header beyond Alvaro Valles to make it 2-1 and tilt the derby’s emotional balance.

From there, the game became what derbies so often become: a test of nerve.

Betis threatened through Abde and Pablo Fornals, while Sevilla pushed and pushed, searching for the moment that would turn pressure into payoff. With the clock winding down and frustration growing, the visitors found their breakthrough in the 85th minute.

A set piece caused trouble, Djibril Sow’s headed pass found its target, and Isaac Romero applied the finish with his left foot into the bottom corner to make it 2-2. He celebrated hard, earned a booking for it, and Sevilla’s travelling support roared like they had won it.

The closing minutes were frantic rather than clean. Sevilla had half-sights through Adnan Januzaj and Akor Adams, but Betis held on, surviving a tense stoppage time to secure a point that felt very different to the two sides: relief for Sevilla, regret for Betis.

For Betis, this will sting. A 2-0 lead in a derby is supposed to be a platform, not a warning sign. For Sevilla, the fightback will feel like a small victory in itself, proof of resilience when the match threatened to slip away.

One city, one derby, and no winner again, just another chapter of noise, nerves and late drama.