Real Betis marked their return to the competition after 21 years away by recovering from Porto’s goals through Gabri Veiga and Samu Aghehowa after Ez Abde’s opener. Cucho Hernández equalised before Isco converted a late penalty.
Antony said the occasion had moved him.
“When we came out onto the pitch, I was emotional because of the fans and everything, after twenty-one years without playing Champions League at our home. This is very important for everyone. It was a very tough night, but we got the victory,” he told Movistar+.
“The most important thing is that we fought until the end. We are building that winning spirit, and this sequence of victories gives us more confidence to keep going.”
Pellegrini was pleased not only with the three points but also with the way his side approached the match.
“For me, winning is very important, the most important thing, but so is the way you win, because there are different ways,” he said. “Fortunately, we have clear ideas and from the first minute we went out to play that way.”
Pellegrini recognised the occasion’s importance to supporters.
“The atmosphere has been tremendous, for a team with only two Champions Leagues in 120 years and which had been waiting almost a quarter of a century, almost a generation. I am pleased because we have given the people some joy,” Pellegrini said. “Six points puts us close to the objective of going through, but until the mathematics says so…”
Pellegrini said Betis had prepared for Porto’s intensity.
“We spoke before the match about the importance of recovering the ball when playing out, because they usually do it through the middle,” he said. “Their intensity is tremendous, and we were able to maintain it in the second half because the players who came on were committed. The three points make me very happy, but so does the team’s performance.”
Pellegrini reflected on the turnaround. “In the first half we were much superior and 0-0 did not reflect what happened. In the second half we hit the post through Antony and they turned it around with two isolated chances. They are a big Champions League team, used to these matches, but we kept calm and turned the score around,” he said.