Veteran Playmaker Isco Doubles Up as Real Betis Thrash Osasuna 5-2 in La Liga

Veteran playmaker Isco produced a vintage display with a clinical brace on Sunday to guide Real Betis to an emphatic 5-2 victory over Osasuna. The high-scoring triumph propelled the Andalusian club back into third place in La Liga, moving them one point ahead of reigning champions Real Madrid and level on points with second-placed Atletico Madrid, while trailing table-toppers Barcelona by five points.

Manuel Pellegrini’s side delivered an entertaining masterclass in attacking football to register their sixth league victory from eight matches this season. Betis have turned their temporary home at La Cartuja Stadium into an absolute fortress while their iconic Benito Villamarin stadium undergoes an extensive redevelopment project that is expected to conclude around 2028.

The hosts seized control of the contest early in the first half when 34-year-old former Real Madrid star Isco stepped up to convert a coolly taken penalty following a foul on Rodrigo Riquelme. Betis maintained relentless offensive pressure, and winger Ez Abde doubled the advantage on the half-hour mark with a composed finish past the Osasuna goalkeeper.

Osasuna’s defensive frailties worsened immediately after the interval when Croatian striker Ante Budimir inadvertently deflected the ball into his own net to hand Betis a comfortable 3-0 cushion. However, Budimir soon redeemed himself by scoring at the correct end, followed shortly by a strike from Raul Garcia to briefly spark hopes of an Osasuna comeback.

Any lingering anxiety for the home supporters was swiftly quelled as Betis responded emphatically to seal the three points. Isco added his second goal of the evening to re-establish a two-goal cushion, before Pellegrini's men capped off a commanding five-goal display to maintain their blistering early-season title challenge.