Real Betis, Osasuna continue perfect starts to La Liga season

Madrid, Aug 20, 2022 (AFP) - A brace of penalties by Borja Iglesias gave Real Betis a 2-1 victory at Real Mallorca on Saturday as Manuel Pellegrini's side joined Osasuna in making it two wins out of two at the start of the season in La Liga.

Iglesias gave Betis a ninth-minute lead from the penalty spot in the Balearic Islands after a handball by Mallorca's Rodrigo Battaglia was penalised following a VAR review.

Kosovo striker Vedat Muriqi headed Mallorca back level early in the second half from a Lee Kang-in cross, only for Betis to win another spot-kick when the unfortunate Battaglia blocked Nabil Fekir on his way into the area.

Iglesias, who also scored in last week's season-opening 3-0 defeat of Elche, again made no mistake with his 73rd-minute penalty, and Betis held on for a 2-1 win as Lee hit the woodwork from a late free-kick.

Earlier Osasuna beat Cadiz 2-0 in Pamplona thanks to two penalties, with Chimy Avila converting the first goal late in the first half and Kike Garcia slotting in the second late on after Cadiz had Tomas Alarcon sent off.

After Osasuna defeated Sevilla last week they have now won their first two matches of the season in La Liga for the first time since 1981.

Betis, who won last season's Copa del Rey, host Osasuna next weekend.

Real Madrid can join those sides on a maximum six points with a win at Celta Vigo in Saturday's late kick-off.

Barcelona go to Real Sociedad on Sunday evening.