Real Betis advanced to the UEFA Conference League round of 16 despite a 1-0 home defeat to Gent

Real Betis advanced to the UEFA Conference League round of 16 despite a 1-0 home defeat to Gent on Thursday.  Their dominant 3-0 first-leg victory ensured their progression.  Gent's late win came courtesy of a Brown strike in the 87th minute, assisted by a brilliant outside-of-the-foot pass from Sonko.  The match also saw Vitor Roque, on loan from Barcelona, sent off for a stamp late in the game, compounding a frustrating night for the young forward who had earlier squandered a one-on-one opportunity.

Despite the loss, Betis largely controlled the game, particularly in the first half, with Abde posing a constant threat.  Gent goalkeeper Roef made several key saves to deny the Betis attack.  Gent's best first-half chance came from an Ito effort that narrowly missed the post.

The second half saw Roque's missed opportunity and subsequent red card, as well as a close call for Gent when a free-kick deflected off Perraud.  Ultimately, Gent capitalized on their numerical advantage late in the game to secure a consolation victory.

Betis now await the round of 16 draw, which takes place on Friday at 14:00 CET in Nyon, Switzerland. They will face either Chelsea or Vitoria de Guimaraes.  While their place in the next round was never in doubt, the match highlighted Betis's ongoing struggles with finishing and consistency.

The match was played at the Benito Villamarín stadium in Seville, with an attendance of 51,510, including approximately 1,000 Gent supporters.