Giovani Lo Celso’s bittersweet return: goal ruled out vs Barcelona

Giovani Lo Celso, Real Betis, returned to the starting XI and turned that milestone into a big moment: he scored in the Betis-Barcelona match at La Cartuja, only for the goal to be disallowed. With his first start of the season, the Argentine made it 2-2 with a spectacular left-footed volley from close to the spot, a celebration that ended after the ruling.

MARCA points to Cucho Hernández’s handball as the reason the strike was cancelled in the buildup. The play featured several messy phases, including a high ball, a header duel and a rebound. Betis had gone into half-time trailing, but Pellegrini highlighted the collective display: “Quedé contento con lo que hizo el equipo a nivel colectivo. Le hubiese venido bien ese gol”.

Lo Celso also stressed Betis’s fight: “Hubo varias jugadas que mataron el partido. Al final el gol anulado es dudoso… me quedo con que el equipo compitió hasta el final”. He additionally created two chances, one of them clear.