Bartra and Fornals secure Real Betis 2-1 win over Malaga
How the match unfolded, with the data behind it
AI-generated from fixture data, league standings, team statistics, events, venue, lineups, match statistics, player performance, and injuries. Goal scorers, goal times and table figures automatically checked against match data before publication.How this story was made
- Evidence
- fixture data, league standings, team statistics, events, venue, lineups, match statistics, player performance, and injuries
- Generated
- 10/31/2026, 9:33:13 PM
- Model
- GPT56Luna
- Format checks
- passed · score 95/100 · 256 words
Real Betis beat Malaga 2-1 after Marc Bartra and Pablo Fornals scored before half-time. Malaga’s Adrian Nino replied in the second half, but Betis’ control of possession and shooting volume secured three points and a provisional fourth-place standing.
Match report
Bartra and Fornals secure Real Betis victory
Real Betis finished 2-1 winners against Malaga in La Liga, with two first-half goals providing the decisive advantage. The home side’s control of possession and shot volume explains how they built that lead, although Malaga made the closing stages competitive.
Marc Bartra opened the scoring in the 38th minute, converting Isco’s assist to make it 1-0. Pablo Fornals then extended Real Betis’ advantage at 45', sending the teams into half-time with the score 2-0. Malaga responded in the 68th minute when Adrian Nino scored to reduce the running score to 2-1, but Real Betis held on.
Betis controlled the numbers
Real Betis had 59% possession and produced 23 total shots to Malaga’s 10, including 13 attempts from inside the box compared with six. They also led 10-3 on corner kicks and completed 550 accurate passes to Malaga’s 380. The expected-goals figures were closer, at 1.4 to 1.1, while both goalkeepers made three saves.
David Larrubia and Rafael Garrido Hierro were booked for Malaga before the interval. Nelson Deossa and Aitor Ruibal received late yellow cards for Betis; there were no red cards.
Updated table picture
Real Betis moved to 23 points and are provisionally #4, five points behind leaders Atletico Madrid. Malaga remain on 5 points and are provisionally #20. Betis’ record is now 7W 2D 2L, while Malaga’s sixth defeat leaves them at 0W 5D 6L.
Pablo Fornals was a standout performer, earning an 8.2 rating after scoring, registering two shots on target and creating three key passes.
Explore match and season data
Real Betis
Malaga
Standings source snapshot
These are the saved source standings. They may predate this match; they are not a live or recalculated post-match table.
| Logo | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Atletico Madrid | WWWWW | 11 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 22 | 8 | 28 | |
| 2 | Barcelona | LWWWW | 10 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 40 | 11 | 27 | |
| 3 | Real Madrid | WWWLW | 10 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 25 | 10 | 24 | |
| 4 | Real Betis | DLWDW | 10 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 16 | 14 | 20 | |
| 5 | Real Sociedad | WWWWL | 10 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 19 | 18 | 19 | |
| 6 | Sevilla | WLDLW | 10 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 16 | 16 | 17 | |
| 7 | Alaves | DLLDL | 10 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 14 | 11 | 12 | |
| 8 | Athletic Club | WLDDD | 9 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 12 | 9 | 12 | |
| 9 | Villarreal | LWDLW | 11 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 15 | 15 | 12 | |
| 10 | Celta Vigo | LDWDW | 11 | 2 | 6 | 3 | 10 | 10 | 12 | |
| 11 | Rayo Vallecano | WLDDW | 10 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 15 | 20 | 12 | |
| 12 | Deportivo La Coruna | LDLDL | 10 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 13 | 13 | 11 | |
| 13 | Espanyol | WLLDL | 11 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 13 | 14 | 11 | |
| 14 | Osasuna | LWLDL | 10 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 10 | 20 | 11 | |
| 15 | Racing Santander | WLDLL | 10 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 15 | 26 | 11 | |
| 16 | Elche | WDDWL | 10 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 14 | 17 | 10 | |
| 17 | Levante | LLWDD | 11 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 16 | 21 | 10 | |
| 18 | Getafe | LDLWL | 10 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 15 | 9 | |
| 19 | Valencia | LDDLW | 10 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 7 | 17 | 6 | |
| 20 | Malaga | DLDLL | 10 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 19 | 5 |