◤UEFA Europa League◢ Cucho Hernandez's penalty salvages Real Betis with a 1-1 draw against Sporting Clube de Braga..

Real Betis drew 1-1 away against Sporting Clube de Braga in the first leg of their 2025/26 UEFA Europa League quarter-finals match at the Estádio Municipal de Braga on Wednesday.

In the first half, Grillitsch scored from close range, and Bartra scored with a follow-up shot, but it was ruled out. He then attempted a header, but it hit the post. In a crucial moment, Victor's close-range shot went wide. In the second half, Cucho Hernandez converted a penalty. In another crucial moment, Antony's long shot went just wide of the post. Ultimately, the two sides could only manage a 1-1 draw.

First Half

In the 3rd minute, Pau Victor passes horizontally from the left side of the box. Ricardo Horta quickly followed up and upon receiving the pass, volleyed with his right foot from the left side of the box, but his shot was saved by Pau Lopez.

In the 5th minute, Braga earned a crucial corner kick. Diego Rodriguez delivered the corner by crossing it into the box, where Florian Grillitsch, from close range, backheeled it into the bottom right corner of the net, giving Sporting Clube de Braga an early 1-0 lead! The Austria international defensive midfielder scored in his second consecutive Europa League match!

2 minutes later, Betis had a free kick opportunity. Pablo Fornals took the free kick by sending an overhead pass into the box from outside the box. Abde Ezzalzouli headed the ball towards goal, however his effort was saved and cleared off not far away by Lukas Hornicek. Marc Bartra quickly followed up and upon picking up the loose ball, slotted the ball nto the bottom right corner from a very close distance in the box with a right-footed follow-up shot. However, the linesman immediately raised his flag for offside, and the goal was ruled out!

In the 24th minute, Betis won a free kick. Abde took the free kick by crossing it into the box. Bartra rose high and attempted with a header, unfortunately the ball hit the right post and bounced off. Real Betis missed another golden opportunity to equalize!

2 minutes later, Betis launched a quick counter-attack. Cucho Hernandez made a straight pass from the left wing. Abde Ezzalzouli quickly followed up, got the ball and took a few steps before volleying with his left foot from the left side of the box, but his shot was saved by the outrushing Hornicek.

In the 37th minute, Bartra crossed into the box from the right wing. Cucho Hernandez attempted with a header in the box, however his effort was saved by Hornicek.

In the second minute of first-half stoppage time, Braga launched a quick counter-attack. Victor Gomez played an overhead pass into the box. After beatting the offside trap, Pau Victor quickly followed u, got the ball and took a few steps before volleying with his right foot from a very close distance in the box. However, his shot somehow went wide of the left post. Braga missed a golden opportunity to extend their lead!

At halftime, Sporting Clube de Braga temporarily enter the break leading Real Betis by 1-0.

Second Half

Both teams switched sides as the match continued. In the 56th minute, Jean-Baptiste Gorby passes horizontally from the attacking third. Upon receiving the pass, Grillitsch took a right-footed long shot from the edge of the penalty area, but his shot was saved by Pau Lopez.

4 minutes later, Abde dribbled into the left side of the box and was maliciously brought down by Gorbi. The referee immediately blew his whistle and awarded Betis a penalty! Cucho Hernandez converted the penalty with his right foot, even managing to guess the wrong way, making it 1-1 for Real Betis against Sporting Clube de Braga! This was the Colombia international striker's 12th goal in all competitions this season!

In the first minute of stoppage time, Fornals passes horizontally from the left wing. Antony quickly followed up, got the ball, dribbled, cuts inside and passes took a few steps before taking a left-footed long shot from outside the penalty area, but his shot went just slightly wide of the top left corner of the post.

When the final whistle is blown, Real Betis held Sporting Clube de Braga to a 1-1 draw away from home.

Image source: Internet / AFP