Morocco star Abde Ezzalzouli scores but Real Betis stumble again

Morocco star Abde Ezzalzouli continued his impressive run of form for Real Betis at the weekend despite playing out a 1-1 draw at Osasuna.

The visitors made a bright start to the encounter, with the former Barcelona youngster slotting home the opening goal just seven minutes into the match.

Ezzalzouli showcased his attacking intent with a well-taken opener, giving Betis an early advantage and raising hopes of ending their recent struggles.

However, Osasuna responded with resilience and composure. Their persistence paid off just before halftime when Croatian striker Ante Budimir converted from the penalty spot in the 40th minute, restoring parity and shifting the momentum in favor of the hosts.

The second half saw both sides push for a winner, but neither could find the decisive goal. For Betis, it marked yet another missed opportunity in what has become a worrying spell of form.

The draw extends Betis’ winless streak to seven matches — a run consisting of five draws and two defeats. Their last taste of victory dates back to a 2-1 triumph over Mallorca in the 24th round, underlining the team’s recent inconsistency at a crucial stage of the season.

With 46 points, Betis remain fifth in the standings, but their grip on that position is far from secure. Celta Vigo, currently sixth and just two points behind, have the chance to leapfrog them if they secure a positive result against Real Oviedo later today.

For Osasuna, the result represents steady progress. The draw was their 12th of the campaign, taking them to 39 points and keeping them in ninth place as they continue to build a solid mid-table campaign.

Elsewhere in La Liga action, Real Mallorca are set to face Rayo Vallecano, while Athletic Bilbao will take on Villarreal in what promises to be another pivotal round of fixtures.

As the season edges closer to its climax, Betis’ inability to turn promising performances into victories could prove costly in their push for European qualification.