Old hands Manuel Pellegrini and Rafa Benitez met in this UEFA Europa League Round of 16 encounter, won convincingly by the Spanish side before an ecstatic crowd in Seville.
The temporary home of Real Betis, in Cartuja, certainly seems to suit the fans while their own stadium is redeveloped over the next three years.
Over 60,000 were present on a pleasant evening and they would generate quite a thunderous atmosphere.
Needing to recover a one goal deficit, the men in green soon set about attacking their Greek counterparts and they levelled the tie within eight minutes when Cucho Hernandez’s fine effort rebounded off the bar for Aitor Ruibal to score.
That gave the home side the momentum, although Benitez’ side did have an early chance (well saved) and they could often look to striker Tetteh as a potential danger.
And as the first half wore on it seemed Panathinaikos had survived the initial onslaught and would go in all-square.
However, almost out of the blue Moroccan star Sofiane Amrabat produced a stunning snap shot that made it 2-0 allowing the vast majority to enjoy their half-time break.
The contest had been tight at times in the first 45 but that was not the case in the second period since Betis dominated.
Within ten of the restart Hernandez finished off a right move and then just after the hour mark Brazilian Antony, once of Manchester United, put it beyond doubt from close range.
Benitez would make changes but his side never looked like getting back into the match.
At home, with that fervent crowd and their serious attacking threats, Betis should be a match for anyone in this season’s Europa League.
Certainly they will be heavily favoured to get past Braga in the quarters and they could even be destined for Istanbul in May and their first UEL final, maybe against Unai Emery’s Aston Villa.
That would, again, be an interesting coaching matchup.
The 72-year-old Pellegrini, who has been at the club from 2020, has a range of domestic honours in his palmares from a number of countries, but I’m sure he would relish this European title (after going close in 2025)
And so would the locals, who are clearly enjoying being Real Betis fans at the moment.
Report – John Bethell in Seville.
