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REAL BETIS KICKED off their Spanish La Liga campaign with a 1-0 victory over last season’s Copa del Rey winners Real Sociedad on Friday.

The game came too soon for Irish international Troy Parrott, who officially signed for the club on Thursday.

But the 24-year-old Dubliner, who signed in a reported €20 million deal from AZ Alkmaar, was in the stands to watch his new teammates secure the win and make a promising start to the new campaign following last season’s fifth-place finish.

Rodrigo Riquelme’s tidy volley from Cucho Hernandez’s cross to the back post after 63 minutes secured all three points for Manuel Pellegrini’s side from a tight and even game.

On Saturday, José Mourinho starts his second reign as Real Madrid coach at Espanyol, after Los Blancos went back-to-back seasons without winning a major trophy.

Hansi Flick’s Spanish champions Barcelona visit Elche on Sunday in their first game of the season.

A new signing in the stands 👀

— Premier Sports Ireland (@PremSportsIRL) August 21, 2026

Troy Parrott is watching Real Betis in action tonight after signing for the club yesterday 💚 pic.twitter.com/9Jpq9CQzeD

Additional reporting by Paul Fennessy

Written by AFP and originally published on The 42 whose award-winning team produces original content that you won’t find anywhere else: on GAA, League of Ireland, women’s sport and boxing, as well as our game-changing rugby coverage, all with an Irish eye. Subscribe here.

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