Real Betis Demolish Osasuna 5-2 to Secure Historic La Liga Start

Real Betis recorded their best-ever start to a La Liga season with a spectacular 5-2 victory over Osasuna at the Estadio de La Cartuja, climbing to third in the standings.

Manuel Pellegrini’s side dictated the tempo from the opening whistle. Veteran playmaker Isco opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 10th minute after Rodrigo Riquelme was brought down. Abde Ezzalzouli doubled the advantage in the 31st minute, calmly finishing a precise pass from Cucho Hernández.

The hosts seemingly put the game to bed three minutes into the second half when Osasuna forward Ante Budimir scored an own goal from a set-piece. However, Budimir quickly redeemed himself in the 50th minute, and former Betis striker Raúl García struck five minutes later to drastically narrow the deficit to 3-2.

With momentum swinging, Isco restored order in the 67th minute, firing home his second of the night after a penalty-box scramble. Nineteen-year-old debutant José Antonio Morante capped off the memorable night in the 90th minute, tapping in a Hector Bellerín cross to make it 5-2.

The triumph moves Betis to 19 points after eight matches, leapfrogging Real Madrid into third place.