Real Betis Balompié suffered a 1-0 loss to Inter Milan in the friendly played on August 15, 2026 at Stadio San Nicola in Bari. The only goal of the match came in the 82nd minute, scored by John Stones, leaving the Spanish side without a response in the full 90 minutes.
The game started with both squads testing their line‑ups. In the 10th minute, Ángel Ortiz replaced Héctor Bellerín after an early injury, forcing manager Manuel Pellegrini to reshuffle his defence. The score remained level until extra time, when Stones received a pass inside the box and, without hesitation, struck the ball into the net. The goal was recorded at 82', sealing Inter's win.
Although the friendly does not affect the official standings, Betis' performance offers clues about its preparation for the upcoming season. The club finished the 2025 campaign in fifth place in La Liga with 46 points (11 wins, 13 draws, 7 losses) and a recent form of DDLDL. It has scored 45 goals and conceded 38, keeping a +7 goal difference. These numbers suggest a competitive side, yet the absence of Abdessamad Ezzalzouli, Aitor Ruibal and Diego Conde remains a challenge.
Pellegrini has his La Liga debut scheduled for August 21 against Real Sociedad, a match that will test Betis' ability to translate friendly‑match experience into official results. Meanwhile, the board continues to assess the performance of the injured players and plans possible adjustments before the season starts.
Inter Milan arrived at the friendly with an unbeaten record in its preparatory games, including decisive wins over Sportfreunde Lotte (3-0), Lyon (4-0) and Arsenal (3-1). They also drew 2-2 with Bournemouth and won on penalties against Manchester City. In Serie A, the Italian side will debut against Monza on August 22, while its first La Liga outing will be against Real Sociedad, highlighting the intensity of its pre‑season schedule.
