Dortmund beat Betis 2-1 as Karetsas delivers decisive goal

Borussia Dortmund beat Betis 2-1 in the Champions League after a closely contested match. Karetsas scored the winner four minutes after Aitor Ruibal had equalised, finishing a pass from Silva. Betis fought back into the game but left empty-handed despite a spirited performance.

Dortmund had gone ahead when Silva finished after Betis goalkeeper Álvaro Valles saved Jobe Bellingham’s initial effort. Substitute Ruibal then levelled, converting Abde Ezzalzouli’s cross after Betis won the ball in the opposition half. Karetsas, who had come on in the first half, restored Dortmund’s lead in the 72nd minute. Silva turned provider, setting him up for the decisive goal.

The defeat was Betis’s first in the Champions League. The side remains on nine points after four matches, but missed the chance to strengthen its position among the leading teams in the league phase. Manuel Pellegrini was disappointed with the result, while believing his team had shown the character needed to compete with one of Germany’s leading clubs.

“I’m disappointed that we haven’t managed to get a point. We played a very good game, showing the personality to go out and win from the first minute,” Pellegrini said. He also praised his team’s ambition and felt a draw would have been fair. “The team competed, I am satisfied with what we did, but disappointed not to get a point. Nine points from 12 is a good return in the Champions League,” he added.

For Dortmund, Niko Kovač was pleased with his side’s response, particularly after Serhou Guirassy went off injured early in the match. “We dictated the game for long periods and kept it under control. It wasn’t easy, partly because we lost Serhou to injury early on,” he said. Kovač also praised Karetsas, who had entered the game in the first half: “He came on, did his job very well and scored too. It’s good to get such a positive boost from the bench.”

Pellegrini also highlighted Ruibal’s contribution after a difficult spell recovering from injury. Despite the defeat, he said Betis would approach their remaining European fixtures with the same ambition. “This team will go out to compete in the Champions League regardless of the opponent.”