Real Betis 2-1 Fiorentina: UEFA Conference League result as Antony's stunner and Abde Ezzalzouli's strike give hosts lead after semi-final first leg

Real Betis will take a 2-1 lead to Florence after a gripping UEFA Conference League semi-final first leg at the Estadio Benito Villamarin.

Abde Ezzalzouli fired the hosts in front with only six minutes on the clock after converting from Cedric Bakambu's cut-back.

There was initially some doubt whether the Moroccan's effort had crossed the line as the ball bounced off the underside of the bar. However, it was given after Michael Oliver received the all clear.

Antony doubled the lead for Betis with a superb right-footed strike from the edge of the box, before Luca Ranieri halved the deficit with a clinical finish from a Robin Gosens cross.

Manuel Pellegrini will be disappointed that his side will not be taking a bigger lead to Florence, with Marc Bartra spurning several golden opportunities to make the scoreline more emphatic.

Raffaele Palladino's side have work to do if they are to reach a third consecutive Conference League final and right the wrongs of the last two years.

Nevertheless, the Serie A side will take a number of positives from the game, including the superb performance by Gosens and the return of Moises Kean.

It should be a cracking match next week!

It has been a brilliant night for English teams in Europe, with wins for Manchester United, Tottenham and Chelsea.

Ruben Amorim's side won 3-0 in their Europa League semi-final win over Athletic Club, thanks to a goal from Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes' brace.

Tottenham will take a 3-1 lead to Norway after their first leg victory in north London, following goals from Brennan Johnson, James Maddison and Dominic Solanke's penalty.

Meanwhile, Chelsea have one foot in the Conference League final after dispatching Djurgarden with a 4-1 win. Jadon Sancho, Noni Madueke and Nicolas Jackson's brace secured a comfortable win for Enzo Maresca's side.

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That was good fun!

Real Betis have edged out an enthralling semi-final first leg at the Estadio Benito Villamarin.

Goals from Ezzalzouli and Antony ensure the La Liga side will take a lead to Florence, while Ranieri's effort gives the Viola hope of a comeback next week.

It's a full-throttle challenge by Folorunsho on Lo Celso in the box.

There was a brief VAR check, which deemed the challenge as a fair one.

The Argentine requires treatment which full of blood and thunder from Fiorentina's number 90.

A concern for Fiorentina, as Kean goes down following a clash with Betis keeper Vieites.

Both are fine to continue.

The Betis defender misses another chance as he runs onto a header inside the box, which misses the target.

Just before that free-kick, Gudmundsson was replaced by Zaniolo.

Adli is harshly booked for a challenge on Lo Celso, who appears to take a dive on the edge of the box.

Resulting free-kick from Lo Celso hits the wall.

Watch the goal back in all its glory!

Sergi Altimira replaces former West Ham midfielder Fornals, as Betis make their second change.

Gosens was close to wiping out the hosts' lead after meeting Mandragora's corner with a glancing header which goes just wide of the far post.

It's pretty straightforward for De Gea though, who comfortably gathers the frontman's effort.

It's a case of captain fantastic, with Gosens playing a telling role here.

The winger takes a brilliant touch on the left-hand side and expert cuts the ball back for Ranieri to slot home from close range.

Game on!

Palladino reshuffles his pack, withdrawing Parisi and Fagioli and replacing the duo with Richardson and Folorunsho.

Oh, that deserved a goal!

That was a delightful free-flowing move from Pellegrini's men, as Bakambu lays off Antony's ball into the path of Fornals, who fires straight at De Gea.

Parisi is booked for a challenge on Lo Celso in the build-up to Antony's goal.

The Manchester United loanee has had a frustrating night up to this point, but that's been forgotten now as he doubles the hosts' lead.

His first shot is blocked by Ranieri, before he rifles a ferocious right-footed strike past former team-mate De Gea!

Ezzalzouli goes off after scoring the goal of the game so far, and he's replaced by former Tottenham man Lo Celso.