Real Betis needed a stoppage-time equaliser and extra time to beat Navalcarnero 3-2 in the Copa del Rey round of 128. Manuel Pellegrini's weakened side avoided an upset and now await the second-round draw.

Real Betis came from behind late on to beat Navalcarnero in the Copa del Rey round of 128 on Thursday 12 November. Riquelme settled the tie in extra time at Santo Domingo. Manuel Pellegrini’s side finished with ten men after Aitor Ruibal was sent off.

The venue carried history for the Betis coach. Santo Domingo is where Pellegrini, then in charge of Real Madrid, suffered the 2009 cup defeat known as the ‘Alcorconazo’, El Gol Digital noted. Navalcarnero, founded in 1953, play in Group V of Segunda Federación. The club moved the tie away from its own Municipal Mariano González ground. It chose Santo Domingo, which holds roughly 5,000, to make room for its more than 2,000 members. The club said money was not the only reason.

Betis trailed late on before Riquelme’s extra-time winner

Riquelme opened the scoring in the fifth minute from a Ruibal assist, and Betis led at half-time. Álvaro Leis equalised in the 49th minute from a free-kick routine set up by Navalcarnero’s coach. Leis then turned provider for K. Vazquez, who put the hosts ahead in the 79th minute.

Marina levelled in stoppage time, with Ruibal credited with the assist. Riquelme’s second goal came in the 96th minute. Diego Llorente went off in extra time after a heavy blow to the head. Isco missed a penalty in the 117th minute. Already booked in the 90+4th minute, Ruibal received a second yellow and a red card in the 118th. Navalcarnero felt they should have had a penalty for a challenge by Pablo Fornals, and the tie was played without VAR, Infobae (EFE) reported.

The figures show how much Betis dominated. They had 73% of the ball, took 29 shots to Navalcarnero’s 12 and won 13 corners to 3. They completed 864 accurate passes. Dani Ceballos earned a 9.2 rating with 3 key passes. On the same night, Levante also needed extra time in the first round, winning 2-1 away to CD Tarancón.

A depleted Betis squad now turns to the derby and the draw

Betis were without several regulars. Valles, Marc Roca, Abde, Parrott, Deossa and four other players were away on international duty. Cucho Hernández was injured. Betis agreed the new date after talks with the RFEF and Navalcarnero, knowing that any players called up by their national teams would miss the match.

The win follows a 2-0 victory over Elche. For Navalcarnero, the defeat ended a run of five matches without loss, including a 3-2 win over Numancia. They host Getafe II in Segunda División RFEF on Sunday 15 November. Betis visit Sevilla in LaLiga on Saturday 21 November.

The second round will be played as single matches from 2 to 4 December 2026, with 56 clubs in 28 ties. The lower-division side will be at home if its ground meets RFEF standards. To let the postponed ties be completed first, the RFEF pushed the draw back from its original date of 16 November.