2-2 Draw: Borja Iglesias Denies Espanyol a Crucial Victory

Spain - Ekhbary News Agency

2-2 Draw: Borja Iglesias Denies Espanyol a Crucial Victory

In a pulsating match that remained in the balance until the final whistle, Real Betis snatched a dramatic 2-2 draw away at Espanyol, courtesy of a 93rd-minute equalizer from former club hero Borja Iglesias. The striker's late intervention denied Espanyol what would have been their first victory of 2026, leaving the home faithful heartbroken and extending their winless streak into the new year.

Espanyol, managed by Manolo González, had been on the cusp of celebrating a much-needed triumph. They had fought back impressively after falling behind to an early goal from Ferran Jutglà, with strikes from Kike García and Tyhys Dolan putting them ahead. The positive news for the 'Pericos' faithful is that despite dropping two points in the latter stages, the team will remain in a European qualification spot following this matchday. However, the team has only managed two points from their last six league fixtures, a concerning statistic.

Meanwhile, Celta Vigo, who share the points from this encounter, continue their own winless run, having not tasted victory since January 22nd. Their recent form reads as three draws and two defeats, highlighting their struggles to convert performances into wins. They sit just one point behind Espanyol in the standings.

The match also carried a significant social message. In recognition of the International Childhood Cancer Day, both teams' players walked onto the pitch accompanied by 22 children battling the disease, including young Héctor, who had recently attended the manager's press conference. This poignant gesture underscored the importance of solidarity and support beyond the sporting arena.

Tactically, Espanyol's manager, Manolo González, opted for a surprising starting lineup, bringing in Pickel ahead of Urko and handing Ngonge his first start for the club. More anticipated were the returns of Romero, who missed the previous game due to a 'fear clause', and Riedel, who replaced the injured Calero.

Espanyol began to test the Real Betis goalkeeper, Radu, early on. Expósito, playing in a deeper midfield role rather than his usual attacking midfield position, unleashed a powerful left-footed volley from the edge of the area that required a sharp save from Radu to push it wide for a corner. The home side came even closer to breaking the deadlock in the 18th minute through Javi Rodríguez. The defender went agonizingly close to scoring his first goal of the season, much to the relief of Betis goalkeeper Dmitrovic, who was soon called into action again by Borja Iglesias.

The breakthrough for Real Betis arrived in the 38th minute. A swift counter-attack saw Javi Rueda make a decisive run down the right flank, outpacing Romero. His low cross found Ferran Jutglà, who made no mistake from close range, tapping the ball into an empty net against his former club. Espanyol could have conceded another goal just before halftime, but Marcos Alonso's effort narrowly missed the target.

The second half started with Betis looking to double their lead. Dmitrovic was forced into another spectacular save in the 48th minute, denying Carreira what seemed a certain goal. Even Borja Iglesias was seen congratulating the Espanyol goalkeeper on his impressive stop.

Recognizing the need for a change, Espanyol manager Manolo González introduced three substitutes: Urko, Dolan, and Kike. This tactical shift saw Espanyol adopt a two-striker formation, a move that proved inspired. The team began to play with renewed vigor and created more significant chances.

In the 66th minute, Espanyol's persistence paid off. Kike García found the back of the net, marking his fourth consecutive goal against Celta Vigo, his favored opponent in La Liga, where he has scored seven goals in 23 appearances. The veteran striker's clinical finish brought the scores level.

The drama intensified in the 77th minute when Borja Iglesias appeared to have scored a second goal for Betis, but the strike was disallowed after a lengthy VAR review for offside, a decision that left the visiting players and staff frustrated.

However, Espanyol thought they had snatched a dramatic late winner in the 86th minute. Tyhys Dolan, assisted by substitute Ramon Terrats, scored what seemed to be the decisive goal, sending the home crowd into raptures. But the game was far from over.

In the dying moments of stoppage time, Betis substitute Durán produced a clever backheel flick inside the box, which fell perfectly for Borja Iglesias. The striker, unfazed by the pressure, dispatched the ball into the net, completing a late comeback for Real Betis and extending Espanyol's winless run in 2026. The striker's embrace with Cabrera after the final whistle symbolized the shared emotions of a hard-fought draw.

Ekhbary News Agency