Héctor Fort celebrates the equalizer at La Cartuja
/ EFE
Héctor Fort stepped up when his team needed him most. The Catalan full-back, recently returning from a serious shoulder injury sustained on the very day he scored his first La Liga goal, netted the 1-1 equalizer against Real Betis in a high-stakes match at La Cartuja. Despite the goal, Elche fell 2-1 after Petrot’s reckless challenge on Antony left them a man down for most of the second half, handing Betis the victory.
The goal came under intense pressure, with both teams fighting for crucial objectives. For Betis, a Celta loss to Levante earlier meant this win sealed their return to the Champions League after 21 years. For Elche, every point matters in their battle to escape relegation.
The strike carried special emotional weight for Fort. He had endured a difficult spell since dislocating his shoulder against Rayo Vallecano just before Christmas, after colliding with Nobel Mendy moments after scoring his first top-flight goal. That day, already a regular starter under Eder Sarabia, he couldn’t even celebrate before being forced off.
He missed 15 matches in total and only returned to the squad on April 22 against Atlético Madrid, without playing. Four days later, he started against Oviedo, playing over an hour. He added 22 minutes against Celta and 2 against Alavés before earning a starting spot against Betis.
This was his second goal in La Liga. With fitness and confidence returning at this crucial season stage, Fort has not only regained minutes but also found the back of the net again—this time without injury. Unfortunately, the goal didn’t earn points in Seville, but it showed his development at Martínez Valero hasn’t stalled.
According to reports from SPORT, Fort—fully focused on keeping Elche up—is expected to return to Barcelona this summer. The defender wants to earn a spot during preseason, but his future will depend on Hansi Flick’s evaluation and whether he’s deemed ready to compete for a first-team place. Barcelona will monitor his situation closely, with his case linked to Xavi Espart’s.
