Parrott Fires Real Betis Past Lille on Champions League Debut

Troy Parrott’s rapid start at Real Betis continued on the Champions League stage as the Republic of Ireland forward scored the decisive goal in a 3-2 win over Lille.

Key takeaways

• Parrott scored in the 53rd minute of his first Champions League appearance as Betis beat Lille 3-2.
• The 24-year-old had also settled Betis’ LaLiga victory over Real Madrid four days earlier.
• Lille midfielder Ethan Mbappé was dismissed shortly after Parrott’s goal for an elbow on Natan.
• Betis signed Parrott for €16 million (£13.7m/$18.6m) three weeks ago.
• Manuel Pellegrini praised the striker after he made it two goals in two matches.

Parrott delivers on Betis’ European return

Betis were playing in the Champions League for the first time in 21 years, and Parrott ensured the occasion ended with a significant home victory. The striker collected possession around 30 yards from goal, carried it forward and drove a low left-footed finish into the far corner to put the Seville side ahead in the second half.

Lille’s hopes of responding were damaged three minutes later when Ethan Mbappé received a red card after catching Betis defender Natan in the face with an elbow. Betis then managed the closing stages to secure the 3-2 result.

Pellegrini said Parrott’s immediate contribution had been important for both the player and the team. “I’m very pleased for Troy. Two goals across two games is enormous for him,” the Betis coach said.

Immediate impact after move from AZ

Parrott had already made himself a central figure in Betis’ win over Real Madrid last Friday. Introduced from the bench, he converted from close range in the 81st minute to decide the LaLiga meeting.

The Madrid result carried added significance for the former Tottenham forward. José Mourinho, now in charge of Real Madrid, had worked with Parrott when he was a teenage prospect at Spurs, but the striker received limited first-team opportunities before leaving on a series of loans.

Parrott rebuilt his standing over the last two seasons with AZ Alkmaar, prompting Betis to complete a €16 million transfer three weeks ago. His latest goals extend a run of major contributions in green and white, following his decisive performances for Ireland during the 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign.

Last November, Parrott scored twice in Ireland’s 2-0 victory over Portugal in Dublin, a match in which Cristiano Ronaldo was sent off. He then struck a hat-trick against Hungary in Budapest, including a late stoppage-time winner in a 3-2 success that kept Ireland’s qualification hopes alive.