Lille 2-3 Real Betis: Betis Mark Their Champions League Debut With a Comeback Win
Real Betis won 3-2 away at Lille on Tuesday, September 8 — their first-ever Champions League match, and a fitting way to mark a return to Europe's top table.
A Historic First for Real Betis
Real Betis's only La Liga title came in 1935, when they beat Real Madrid to it by a single point — one of the biggest shocks of pre-war Spanish football. Ninety years later, Manuel Pellegrini's side returned to continental prominence, reaching the 2022/23 Conference League final (lost to Fiorentina) before securing their place in the 2026/27 Champions League for the first time.
Lille's European Ceiling
Lille have 4 Ligue 1 titles, most recently in 2021 under Christophe Galtier, and their best Champions League run came in 2006, reaching the round of 16. Their standout continental season remains 2010/11, when a domestic league-and-cup double included beating PSG in the French Cup final.