Bakambu Sends Real Betis Into Historic Semifinal After Gritty Draw in Bialystok
So, let me tell you about what just happened in the UEFA Conference League — and yes, it's big. Real Betis have made history. On a cool Maundy Thursday evening at the Stadion Miejski in Bialystok, they managed a 1-1 draw against Polish underdogs Jagiellonia Bialystok. But the real story? That draw was enough to send Betis into the semifinals of a European competition for the very first time in their history. Yep, history was made.
Coming into the second leg, Betis were already sitting on a comfortable 2-0 cushion from the first match in Spain. The pressure, naturally, was on Jagiellonia — and despite their spirited home support, it was the Spanish side who struck first. Cedric Bakambu, in top form this campaign, coolly slotted one home in the 78th minute to make it 3-0 on aggregate. That was his eighth goal of the tournament, by the way — the most any Betis player has ever scored in a single European season.
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But Jagiellonia weren’t going to roll over easily. Just a couple of minutes later, Darko Churlinov responded with a tidy equalizer, lighting up the home crowd and preserving their unbeaten home record in the Conference League. It was a moment of pride for the Polish side, whose fairytale European run already felt like a major accomplishment.
Earlier in the match, Betis had shown early signs of dominance, with Antony threatening just two minutes in. Still, after that fast start, they played it smart — not pushing too hard, not risking their aggregate lead. That opened the door for Jagiellonia to build some momentum. Hansen nearly got on the end of a dangerous Imaz cross around the 20-minute mark, and later, a VAR review cancelled what could’ve been a vital goal for the hosts just before halftime due to an offside by Moutinho.
In the second half, Manuel Pellegrini’s men upped the intensity — pressing high, forcing mistakes, and showing the kind of maturity you'd expect from a team chasing history. Even with key players like Diego Llorente and Chimy Ávila out injured, Betis handled the occasion with poise. Jesús Rodríguez and Lo Celso had decent chances, but it was Bakambu's moment that sealed the deal.
For Jagiellonia, their journey in Europe may end here, but there’s no shame in it. They’ve made their mark, shown fight, and written their own chapter of Polish football glory. And for Real Betis? It’s Fiorentina next, with the first leg of the semifinals coming up May 1st at the Benito Villamarín. What a moment for Los Verdiblancos — one step closer to lifting European silverware.
This one’s going in the club’s history books.
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