Isco penalty gives Real Betis 1-0 win over Feyenoord in Champions League

What happened

Real Betis beat Feyenoord 1-0 at the Estadio de La Cartuja in Seville on Wednesday in the third round of the 2026-27 UEFA Champions League league phase. Isco scored the only goal from a penalty in the 59th minute, according to NL Times, FCUpdate and YS Scores, which all report the same final score. ^{[1] [2] [3]}

The spot kick followed a shot from Abde Ezzalzouli that hit the arm of Feyenoord defender Jeremiah St. Juste. Italian referee Simone Sozza pointed to the spot and Isco sent goalkeeper Tjark Ernst the wrong way, FCUpdate reported. ^{[1] [2]}

Kickoff was at 19:00 UTC (20:00 UK time), Squawka's preview listed. ^[4]

How the match went

The first half ended goalless. Ernst saved a shot from Troy Parrott after Mika Marmol lost the ball, and later stopped a long-range effort from Marc Bartra, FCUpdate said. Feyenoord's best chance before the break fell to Gjivai Zechiel, who put a close-range shot high over the bar after a pass from captain Luciano Valente, according to NL Times and FCUpdate. ^{[1] [2]}

Feyenoord pushed for an equaliser late on, bringing on Gaoussou Diarra and Sem Steijn, but did not score, FCUpdate reported. Coach Giovanni van Bronckhorst had made no changes from the side that beat Como 3-2 the previous week, NL Times said. ^{[1] [2]}

The pitch

Van Bronckhorst criticised the playing surface before the match, calling it a "clumpy field" that was "not up to Champions League standards", according to NL Times. FCUpdate described the pitch as poor and said slow passes hampered Feyenoord's counter-attacks. Betis are playing home games at La Cartuja while their own Benito Villamarín stadium is renovated, FCUpdate noted. ^{[1] [2]}

Standings and background

Betis have nine points from three matches and sit fifth in the 36-team table, NL Times reported. Feyenoord are 26th. The top eight teams go straight to the round of 16, while places nine to 24 enter a play-off round. ^[1]

Before Wednesday, Betis had beaten Lille 3-2 away and Porto 3-2 at home. Feyenoord lost 5-1 at Barcelona on the opening night and then beat Como 3-2 at home, according to Squawka. The sides had met once before, in the Europa League on 29 January 2026, when Betis won 2-1 at home, Squawka reported. ^[4]

NL Times described the result as Feyenoord's eighth consecutive away defeat in European competition. ^[1]

What comes next

YS Scores said the result made Feyenoord's qualification chances harder and strengthened Betis's. At 26th, Feyenoord are currently below the play-off places, which stop at 24th, according to the format NL Times described. ^{[3] [1]}