Roma got themselves back on track in the Europa League by ending the 100 per cent Real Betis record, as Andrea Belotti and VAR cancelled out the deflected Sergio Canales opener.
The Giallorossi were third in their group after losing two out of three games, including 2-1 at home to Betis last week. Paulo Dybala was ruled out for the rest of 2022, joining Rick Karsdorp, Zeki Celik, Georginio Wijnaldum and Ebrima Darboe on the sidelines with suspended Nicolò Zaniolo. The hosts had a 100 per cent record, but Nabil Fekir was ruled out with Juanmi.
Luiz Felipe blocked off Andrea Belotti’s attempt and Lorenzo Pellegrini tested the goalkeeper on the rebound, but fortunately for Roma, Juan Miranda slipped when Sergio Canales found him unmarked at the back post.
Betis took the lead with a bit of luck, because the Sergio Canales strike from distance took a massive deflection off Roger Ibanez to completely wrong-foot Rui Patricio.
Another Canales scorcher was deflected just wide moments later, but Roma were unlucky when Andrea Belotti nodded in a Leonardo Spinazzola cross on the stroke of half-time while marginally offside.
Lorenzo Pellegrini’s in-swinging corner surprised Bravo and was practically cleared off the line. There was tension around the equaliser, as at first the offside flag was up again when Belotti tapped in a roll across from the right by substitute Mady Camara, but after a very long wait, VAR confirmed Camara was level. Jose Mourinho was already celebrating on the bench, as he saw the replay on a tablet and was far more confident of Camara’s position.
This was the first time all season in every competition that Real Betis failed to win on home turf.
Real Betis 1-1 Roma
Sergio Canales 34 (B), Belotti 53 (R)