Jul 26, 2024; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Real Betis starting eleven pose before the match against Liverpool at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Barry Reeger-USA TODAY Sports

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WATCH: Real Betis vs Como Friendly Turns Ugly As Players From Both Teams Throw Punches

Jul 26, 2024; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Real Betis starting eleven pose before the match against Liverpool at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Barry Reeger-USA TODAY Sports

What was meant to be a routine pre-season friendly between Real Betis and Como turned into an all-out melee on Wednesday evening. In an astonishing first-half brawl, tempers flared and punches were thrown between players from both the teams.

Both the teams were playing their penultimate friendly match before the new season kicks off. Serie A side Como, managed by Cesc Fabregas, won the match 3-2. However, the real focus wasn’t on the scoreline but on the chaos that broke out just before halftime that grabbed all the attention.

Things kicked off after some tough tackles from the Como players on Giovani Lo Celso and Isco, who had also been involved in some rough play. As tensions rose, Betis goalkeeper Alvaro Valles shoved an opponent while trying to win the ball back, sparking a full-on brawl.

At the heart of the brawl were former West Ham midfielder Pablo Fornals (Real Betis) and ex-Manchester City man Maximo Perrone (Como). The two players exchanged heated words before Fornals appeared to land a punch on the Argentine. Perrone responded with his own swing, but was blocked as players from both sides rushed in to break up the fight.

Watch the Video of the Incident:

Real Betis v Como in a friendly tonight 🤛 pic.twitter.com/PxH2jhZSPu
— 𝐂𝐚𝐬𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐔𝐥𝐭𝐫𝐚 𝐎𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 (@thecasualultra) August 6, 2025

In the chaos that followed, Cucho Hernandez mistakenly punched his own teammate Natan while aiming for an opponent. Surprisingly, Fornals, who appeared to throw the first punch, was not shown a red card. It was Perrone who received the only red card of the melee, getting sent off before halftime. The altercation even reached the technical areas, where Fabregas clashed verbally with Real Betis winger Riquelme.

ALSO READ: Darwin Nunez Transfer News: Al Hilal’s £46m Bid Accepted By Liverpool

With the dust now settled on the dramatic match, Betis will look to regroup ahead of their final pre-season friendly against Malaga. Como, meanwhile, turn their attention to the Joan Gamper Trophy clash with Barcelona before taking on Sudtirol in the Coppa Italia.

Cesc Fabregas

Club Friendlies

Como

Real Betis

Abhinav Goel

soccer

I am a soccer writer at The PlayOffs, covering everything from match analysis to transfer buzz and tactical deep dives. Ever since I was a kid, soccer has been more than just a sport to me—it’s been an obsession. Playing and watching the game from a young age fueled my passion, eventually leading me into the world of sports media and betting. Now, I get to analyze the sport I love and bring the latest updates to fans worldwide.