Real Betis - Rayo Vallecano end 1-1 after long VAR checks and 14 minutes of added time
In a match that stalled repeatedly under VAR scrutiny, real betis - rayo vallecano finished 1-1 as Bakambu put Betis ahead and Isi levelled before a chaotic second half produced two lengthy reviews and 14 minutes of stoppage.
Bakambu opened the scoring; Isi nodded the equaliser
Bakambu converted a rebound after a saved cross to give Betis the lead in a first half the hosts dominated in chances, and Isi capitalised on a perfectly placed cross from Ratiu to make it 1-1 just before the break. The game featured clear attacking moments for both sides: Antony came close after a run that beat Batalla in goal, while Mendy nearly nodded in a set piece delivery.
Real Betis - Rayo Vallecano: two long VAR interventions changed the rhythm
Two VAR calls — one at about the 48th minute over a challenge between Mendy and Cucho and a far more contentious review at the 86th minute after Valentín’s challenge on Ratiu — punctuated the second half. Referee Martínez Munuera ultimately kept his original decisions for both incidents; Pablo González Fuertes led the VAR room in the second review. The 86th-minute intervention led to another on-field check and a decision to leave Valentín without a red card. Match officials then added a total of 14 minutes of stoppage time.
Late drama, a big save and the aftermath
In the extended stoppage Antony nearly found a winner but Batalla produced a crucial save to deny him the 2-1 goal, a moment described in the dressing-room reaction as one that left Antony devastated. The length of the stoppages drew sharp criticism from Betis staff and players: Llorente said the VAR interruptions harmed the flow of the game and questioned why lengthy reviews were called when images were not conclusive. Pellegrini also called the VAR interventions an "interference unnecessary" and praised Martínez Munuera for keeping his decisions after visiting the monitor.
The draw halted Betis’s three-game winning streak and left the hosts looking ahead to the derbi sevillano, with the point less than fully satisfying for their hopes of pushing for European places. For Rayo, the single point was framed as valuable for their battle to remain in the division, with Álvaro García noting the team’s renewed intensity and refusal to concede easily in away fixtures.
real betis - rayo vallecano featured several concrete turning points: Bakambu’s rebound finish for the opener, Isi’s assist-driven equaliser from Ratiu, two VAR reviews at roughly the 48th and 86th minutes, Batalla’s stoppage-time save to keep the score level, and a total of 14 minutes added on by the referee.
Both teams now pivot quickly to what comes next: Betis head into the derbi sevillano on the back of this draw, while Rayo take a hard-earned point they see as useful in the fight for permanence. Recovery and preparation for those next fixtures will be the immediate focus after a match stretched thin by VAR interventions and late drama.
