Cucho Hernández double sends Real Betis to 3-0 win, pushes Oviedo closer to relegation

Key facts

• Cucho Hernández scored twice (22', 58') to lead Real Betis to a 3-0 victory over Real Oviedo at Estadio de La Cartuja.
• Manuel Pellegrini became only the third manager in LaLiga history to record victories against 40 different teams.
• Real Betis now sits fifth with 53 points, six points ahead of sixth-place Celta Vigo.
• Real Oviedo remains bottom with 28 points, seven points from safety with four games remaining.
• The attendance at Estadio Olimpico de la Cartuja was 57,578.
• Betis extended its unbeaten head-to-head run against Oviedo to 14 games (W7, D7).
• Oviedo's Federico Viñas had a goal ruled out by VAR for offside in the 53rd minute.

Lethal counter-attack seals comfortable victory

Cucho Hernández’s double helped Real Betis push Real Oviedo closer to relegation with a 3-0 win at Estadio de La Cartuja, as Manuel Pellegrini became only the third manager in LaLiga history to record victories against 40 different teams in the competition. Having started the day eight points adrift of safety, Oviedo began like a team who knew they sorely needed a victory, with Ilyas Chaira forcing Álvaro Valles into a sprawling stop within 15 seconds of kick-off. Valles was called into action again shortly after when he saved Alberto Reina’s shot on the turn, before Santiago Colombatto whipped a free-kick just wide of the near post. However, Los Azules’ good work was undone midway through the half when Pablo Fornals’ deflected cross fell kindly for Hernández, and Betis’ top goalscorer in LaLiga tucked home from 15 yards. Oviedo failed to capitalise on some good positions as they hunted an equaliser, but Betis would have increased their lead were it not for Chaira’s goal-saving sliding interception to deny Abde Ezzalzouli a tap-in at the far post.

Controversial decisions and VAR drama

The visitors then felt they should have had a penalty when Sofyan Amrabat caught Thiago Fernández with his studs as he slid in on the byline, and their frustrations only grew when Antony crossed for Ezzalzouli to poke home and double Los Verdiblancos’ advantage on the stroke of half time. Los Azules were on the wrong end of another marginal decision eight minutes after the break when Federico Viñas thought he had halved the deficit with a header, only for VAR to show he was centimetres offside. Oviedo brought 41-year-old Santi Cazorla off the bench as they looked to fight back, but before he could make an impact, Betis added a third goal.

Hernández reaches double figures for the season

A counter-attack ended with Hernández flicking Ezzalzouli’s cross in off the post for his 10th LaLiga goal of the season. Viñas twice headed off target before Valles saved Reina’s shot with his legs, but Betis saw out a comfortable victory to extend their unbeaten H2H run to 14 games (W7, D7). Pellegrini’s side have not lost at home in the league since December, and they are now six points clear of sixth-place Celta Vigo, which could prove crucial if Spain is awarded a fifth UEFA Champions League qualifying spot. In contrast, Oviedo look set to make an immediate return to the second tier with just four games of the LaLiga season remaining.

Pellegrini joins elite managerial club

Manuel Pellegrini’s achievement of beating 40 different LaLiga teams places him in an exclusive group, highlighting his longevity and tactical adaptability in Spanish football. The Chilean manager has now guided Betis to fifth place, in pole position for Europa League qualification for the 2026-27 campaign, despite a disappointing Europa League quarter-final exit to Braga. Betis responded strongly to that setback, beating Girona and drawing with Real Madrid to take four points from their last two matches before this victory. Their home record, though only the 10th-best in LaLiga with 27 points from 16 matches, has been solid enough to maintain their European push.

Oviedo’s survival hopes all but extinguished

Guillermo Almada’s Oviedo side entered the match off the back of a 2-1 home defeat to Elche, but they had won their last away match, beating Celta Vigo 3-0 on April 12. Despite a recent revival that saw them win three of their last six league matches, the gap to 17th-placed Mallorca is now seven points with only five games left to play. A win here could have acted as a late springboard, but with remaining fixtures against Getafe, Real Madrid, Alaves and Mallorca, Oviedo’s chances of avoiding relegation appear slim. The Blues have not beaten Betis in all competitions since January 1993, and their league drought extends to April 1991.

What lies ahead for both sides

Real Betis will look to consolidate their fifth-place position in the final four matches, with a potential fifth Champions League spot for Spain adding extra incentive. For Oviedo, the focus shifts to pride and perhaps spoiling the plans of teams still fighting for European places. The match at Estadio Olimpico de la Cartuja drew an attendance of 57,578, underscoring the significance of the fixture for both sets of fans. Flashscore named Cucho Hernández Man of the Match for his decisive contribution.

The bottom line

• Cucho Hernández scored twice (22', 58') to lead Real Betis to a 3-0 win, reaching 10 LaLiga goals this season.
• Manuel Pellegrini became only the third manager in LaLiga history to beat 40 different teams.
• Real Betis moved six points clear of sixth-place Celta Vigo, strengthening their Europa League qualification bid.
• Real Oviedo remains bottom with 28 points, seven points from safety with four games left.
• VAR disallowed a Federico Viñas goal for offside, and Oviedo had a penalty appeal turned down.
• Betis extended their unbeaten run against Oviedo to 14 games (W7, D7).