The game began at a decent pace, but neither side registered a shot on target until the 11th minute, when Betis teenager Jesus Rodriguez fired tamely at Unai Simon when he could have slipped in Cedric Bakambu - the matchwinner last weekend at Mallorca - who had instigated the attack.
However, shortly after that chance, the hosts went ahead as a swift move upfield led to debutant and Manchester United outcast Antony cutting onto his left foot and shooting low, with Simón only able to parry the ball out to Isco, who tucked home.
At the other end, Alex Berenguer’s weak strike was easily gathered by Adrian, but after Bakambu spurned a big opportunity of his own having been found by Isco, Berenguer made amends, playing a major role in a bizarre goal.
After weaving into the box, the fleet-footed 29-year-old was stopped in his tracks by Diego Llorente, but his response was spectacular, whipping the resulting corner to the near post and causing an alarmed Adrian to swipe it against the head of Aitor Paredes, with the centre-back knowing nothing about his role in the equaliser.
Both teams will have sensed that the game was there for the taking, and on the stroke of HT, the diligent Romain Perraud unexpectedly scored for the first time since January 2023, lashing in spectacularly from just outside the box, although Simón somewhat flapped at the shot.
Without the injured Nico Williams, Athletic manager Ernesto Valverde opted not to make any changes at the break, but the visitors struggled to gain control of the contest in the early stages of the second period, leading Valverde to bring on Gorka Guruzeta and Benat Prados for Unai Gómez and Mikel Jauregizar.
However, it was Berenguer who was again the architect of the Basque outfit’s second leveller of the night, swinging in another dangerous corner that was powered in by Oihan Sancet. That goal set up a blockbuster final 20 minutes of normal time as Valverde’s opposite number Manuel Pellegrini went for the jugular, throwing on Vitor Roque and Abde Ezzalzouli for Sergi Altimira and Antony, but ultimately, a winner couldn’t be found in Seville.
Pellegrini has now gone 14 matches without defeat against Athletic during his career in the dugout (10-4-0), but Betis will see today as a missed opportunity ahead of next Saturday’s trip to RC Celta de Vigo, while Valverde’s men host Girona the same day.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Romain Perraud (Real Betis)