Real Betis Vs Nottingham Forest [2-2] UEFA Europa League 2025/2026: Clinical Betis Punish Wasteful Forest – Tactical Analysis

Nottingham Forest played their first European football match after 30 years of absence, but were not capable of getting the three points against the Spanish side Real Betis, who managed to snatch a 2-2 draw in the final minutes of the game.

Nottingham Forest did their best to win the game.

Under new manager Ange Postecoglou, they showed some very positive attacking signs, especially during the first half.

Still, they failed to convert the chances they created, especially after scoring their two goals.

Failing to add a third goal when they had the opportunity to do so was Nottingham Forest’s biggest mistake in this match, costing them two points.

NFFC inability to end the game early kept Real Betis’ hopes alive, which allowed them to come back later on and score the equalising goal despite not being able to dominate the game or consistently threaten Nottingham Forest’s goal during the second half.

Nevertheless, this did not stop them from scoring their second goal as they knew how to be clinical despite not creating as many chances as their opponent.

That said, the draw does not serve either team, as both were trying to start their UEFA Europa League journey with a win that would give them the advantage and allow them to approach their upcoming games with less pressure.

This tactical analysis of the match between Real Betis vs Nottingham Forest at the Estadio de La Cartuja in Seville, Spain, will focus on Nottingham Forest’s finishing issues and assess Ange Postecoglou’s substitutions and their impact on the game.

Real Betis Vs Nottingham Forest Formations & Lineups

Manuel Pellegrini started the match in a 4-4-2 formation, which changed to a 4-2-3-1 formation, primarily depending on Giovani Lo Celso’s movements.

He alternated between playing as a second striker at times and as an advanced playmaker behind the striker at other times.

He used Pau López as a goalkeeper, and a defence formed of Natan and Valentín Gómez as centre-backs, Junior Firpo as a left-back, before getting replaced by Ricardo Rodríguez during the second half, and Ángel Ortiz as a right-back.

Sergi Altimira and Sofyan Amrabat, who is on loan at Real Betis from Turkish side Fenerbahçe, were in the midfield.

Pellegrini relied on the indispensable Antony as a right winger on both wings and Abde Ezzalzouli on the left wing.

Ezzalzouli’s performance during the first half was not convincing.

He was mainly unable to make the difference through his penetrations and dribbles like he was used to, mainly because Nottingham Forest’s defence was ready for him.

Their defensive players closed him down on almost every occasion, succeeding in limiting his threat.

At the same time, we cannot argue that Rodrigo Riquelmes substitution made the difference for Real Betis, as the level and impact of both players were not massive in this match.

However, Riquelme was able to add more freshness to the left wing, as he was capable of touching the ball more and being involved in most of the team’s attacking actions. This was particularly noticeable during the second half, when Real Betis looked better.

Overall, Antonys individual talent in terms of dribbling and cutting inside, and striker Cédric Bakambu’s excellent finishing made the difference for Real Betis.

They allowed themselves to snatch a draw without being very convincing in their attacking play, as they were confronted by a very organised defence that limited the team’s penetration attempts and shots on goal.

On the other hand, Postecoglou preferred to start the match using a 4-1-4-1 formation with Matz Sels as a goalkeeper, and a defence composed of Nikola Milenković and Morato as centre-backs, Neco Williams and Arsenal’s loanee Oleksandr Zinchenko as left-backs.

Nottingham Forest’s defence can be considered remarkably solid during this match.

They conceded little space and time for Real Betis’ attacking players to create their chances, successfully limiting the number of their shots and attacks despite conceding two goals.

In midfield, the team relied on Ibrahim Sangaré as a defensive midfielder, Elliot Anderson and Douglas Luiz as central midfielders, with Morgan Gibbs-White as a right winger and Callum Hudson-Odoi as a left winger.

Some of Postecoglou’s changes were not successful.

They should not have been made mainly because players like Hudson-Odoi and Igor Jesus, who was the team’s starting main striker instead of Chris Wood, were making the difference and causing Real Betis a lot of problems.

It was evident that Hudson-Odoi was involved in most of Nottingham Forest’s attacking attempts from the wing and that he was very dynamic and useful on that side.

Replacing him with Dan Ndoye, who was out of form and did not enter the match well, impacted Nottingham Forest’s potential attacking actions and eventually made it more complicated for them to create dangerous opportunities.

Furthermore, Postecoglous decision to substitute the player who scored twice in this game for Arnaud Kalimuendo, who does not offer the same quality upfront, was not a successful choice either, mainly because he had a more powerful striker on the bench if the aim was to rest Jesus.

The fact that Nottingham Forest have to play another Premier League game on Saturday might explain starting with Jesus instead of Wood.

Still, it cannot be used as an excuse to not use Wood at all in a decisive match against a tough Spanish team and take risks by playing Kalimuendo during the last 26 minutes, despite knowing that Nottingham Forest have not guaranteed the win yet.

The missed opportunity by Kalimuendo during the last minutes of the game is very telling, as it highlights the fact that Kalimuendo was used at the wrong time and that it would have been wiser to keep Jesus.

He was very confident following the two goals he scored and would have added a third goal if he had had this opportunity.

Otherwise, avoiding risks by substituting a more reliable and experienced striker, such as Wood, for Jesus would have also been the most logical choice, given the matchs circumstances.

Nottingham Forest Attacking Performance: Goals & Errors

Nottingham Forest conceded a goal early in the game, which helped them attack and create more determined actions to get back on the scoresheet.

Nottingham Forest Collective Passing & Positioning Teamwork

Following the conceded goal, Nottingham Forest launched their first concerted attacks and were quickly able to score the equalising goal, thanks to a long and fruitful period of ball possession.

Huddson-Odoi, who lo