**Europa League: Nottingham Forest Held 2-2 by Real Betis**
*By Rajdeep Saha | Sep 25, 2025, 03:40 AM*
Nottingham Forest’s eagerly anticipated return to European competition ended in a 2-2 draw against Real Betis in the UEFA Europa League. This marked Forest’s first European match since 1996, offering fans a nostalgic glimpse of their club’s historic triumphs. However, the late equalizer by former Manchester United winger Antony in the 85th minute denied Forest a memorable victory, leaving the result both encouraging and frustrating.
### Match Highlights
The game unfolded as a thrilling contest from the outset. Real Betis took an early lead in the 15th minute thanks to a strike from DR Congo forward Cedric Bakambu. Nottingham Forest responded swiftly as Brazilian forward Igor Jesus equalized just four minutes later, capitalizing on a clever pass from captain Morgan Gibbs-White.
Forest then took the lead on 23 minutes when Jesus headed in from a Douglas Luiz corner, putting Nottingham ahead 2-1 going into half-time.
### Match Dynamics
Despite a strong midfield display by Elliot Anderson and constant attacking threat from Igor Jesus, Forest struggled to maintain their advantage. Callum Hudson-Odoi came close to extending the lead when his shot hit the post in the 33rd minute. However, Antony’s late goal in the 85th minute ensured Real Betis salvaged a draw, delivering a significant setback for Forest manager Ange Postecoglou, who was aiming for his first win since taking charge.
### Fan Experience
The fixture was a historic occasion for Nottingham Forest supporters, with around 5,000 fans traveling to Seville, according to BBC Sport. Many in attendance recalled witnessing their team’s famous European Cup victories over Malmo and Hamburg in 1979 and 1980 under legendary manager Brian Clough.
Despite the late disappointment, the match showcased a positive performance from Postecoglou’s side as they prepare to return home for their Premier League clash against Sunderland on Saturday.
### Igor Jesus Enters the Record Books
According to Opta statistics, Igor Jesus became the fifth player to score two or more goals in each of their first two starts for a Premier League club across all competitions. The list of players to achieve this feat includes:
– Guy Whittingham (Sheffield Wednesday, 1994)
– Dion Dublin (Aston Villa, 1998)
– Marcus Rashford (Manchester United, 2016)
– Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal, 2019)
– Igor Jesus (Nottingham Forest, 2025)
### Opta Stats and Records
– Nottingham Forest avoided defeat in their opening European campaign match for the first time since September 1984, when they drew against Club Brugge in the UEFA Cup.
– Real Betis have been unable to overcome English clubs in nine of their ten European encounters (W1, D2, L7).
– For the first time, Real Betis scored two or more goals against an English side, in this 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest.
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Nottingham Forest’s return to European football may have ended in a draw, but the spirited performance and record-breaking displays offer plenty of optimism for the road ahead.
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