Real Betis defeated Lille 3-2 in the opening round of the Champions League league phase on Tuesday, but the Spanish club's post-match antics stole the spotlight. After Ethan Mbappé, Kylian's 19-year-old brother, was sent off in the 56th minute, Betis seized the moment to mock both siblings with a sarcastic social media post featuring actor Willem Dafoe's famous deadpan expression.
Red Card Ruins Lille's Momentum
Ethan Mbappé's European debut turned catastrophic when he received a straight red card midway through the second half. The midfielder had made a positive impression just 44 minutes earlier, assisting Lille's opening goal through Ojeda. His dismissal left the French side fighting uphill with a numerical disadvantage, though Betis's firepower ultimately proved too much to contain.
The match itself was a high-scoring affair. Marc Bartra twice found the net for Betis, while Alex Sandro and Troy Parrott added crucial strikes. Ojeda's early finish and Bartra's equaliser kept Lille competitive, but Betis's clinical finishing secured a deserved victory at the Benito Villamarín.
Betis's Jab at Kylian Mbappé
The Andalusian club's mockery carried deeper significance. Just weeks earlier, Betis had defeated Real Madrid 1-0 in La Liga's round of 16, with Kylian Mbappé infamously missing a late penalty. The Dutch winger's miss became a cultural moment in Spain, and Betis's post-match post—reading "Every time a member of the Mbappé family hears the word Real Betis"—directly referenced that embarrassment. It was a tongue-in-cheek reminder of their dominance over both Mbappé brothers' clubs.
Betis now turns attention to Porto on October 14th at home, seeking to maintain their impressive Champions League form. The Spanish side's blend of clinical finishing and opportunistic humour has made them one of the competition's surprise packages.
