Real Betis secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Elche CF in La Liga on May 12, with midfielder Pablo Fornals delivering a picture-perfect winner that helped his side clinch a long-awaited UEFA Champions League berth.
Betis took the lead in the 9th minute but conceded in the 41st, heading into halftime level at 1-1. The turning point came in the 49th minute when Elche defender Leo Petrov was sent off, leaving the visitors a man down. Betis capitalized on the numerical advantage in the 68th minute: Fornals latched onto a loose ball from a corner kick, took one touch, and unleashed a precise right-footed strike that nestled into the top-left corner of the net.
The goal showcased his exceptional accuracy, picking out the perfect spot to beat the goalkeeper. The match ended 2-1, earning Betis three crucial points. With that result, Real Betis secured a fifth-place finish in La Liga, guaranteeing their return to the UEFA Champions League for the first time in 21 years.