Just when it seemed the Ange Postecoglou era was up and running at Nottingham Forest, an old Premier League foe came back to haunt them.

Four months after celebrating a Europa League triumph with Tottenham, Postecoglou should have started his new club’s campaign in the competition with a win.

However, despite Forest squandering multiple opportunities to secure the game in the first half, former Manchester United player Antony leveled the score with just five minutes left, leaving Postecoglou still seeking that first victory.

Regarding playing style, Betis were a suitable match for Forest. While they are technically skilled, they lack the speed to challenge Forest on the counterattack. Nonetheless, securing a draw against the previous season’s Europa Conference League runners-up was still a respectable outcome.

The Premier League’s influence makes the Europa League a significant trophy. Winning it grants entry to the Champions League, irrespective of league standings. After finishing 17th last season, Spurs have now qualified for Europe’s premier club tournament by clinching this title. This achievement is notable for owner Evangelos Marinakis, who observed from the stands in Seville.

Man United flop Antony scored a late equaliser as Nottingham Forest drew 2-2 with Real Betis

Igor Jesus netted a first half brace after Cedric Bakambu put Betis ahead early on in the game

It was a frustrating end for Forest, but Ange Postecoglou’s side put in a daring display 

After being away from top-tier European contests for so long, Forest appeared jittery at the start. Positioned at right wing in a 4-3-3 setup, Morgan Gibbs-White received a booking in the second minute for tugging back Abde Ezzalzouli.

Just moments before, Oleksandr Zinchenko narrowly avoided a yellow card for a similar tackle on former Manchester United player Antony, and Matz Sels had to scramble to clear as Bakambu charged forward.

Until that point, Betis had looked the more fluent and it was no surprise when they took the lead. In for the injured Murillo, Morato allowed Antony to slip past him far too easily and when the Brazilian picked out Bakambu, he profited from slack marking to hammer beyond Sels in the 15th minute.

The visitors were trying to adapt to Postecoglou’s tweaks, which meant a three-man midfield and Jesus the furthest forward, with Chris Wood on the bench. More than anything, they needed to show character – and how they passed that test.

Within three minutes they were level as Jesus tapped into an empty net to finish off a marvellous move involving Zinchenko, Douglas Luiz and Gibbs-White. And five minutes later, the £16.5million summer signing from Botafogo rose unchallenged to head Luiz’s corner past Pau Lopez.

Betis lost their shape completely then, and the home crowd responded with whistles. This was when Forest really should have put the game out of sight.

Elliot Anderson tiptoed past two defenders inside the box and found Jesus, whose shot was blocked. Jesus prodded Zinchenko’s corner against the post from close range and Callum Hudson-Odoi could not convert the rebound.

After more clever passing, Jesus steered Neco Williams’ cross too close to Lopez and Williams was soon involved again as he collected Gibbs-White’s pass and tried to set up the Forest captain, who was desperately close to turning in the third.

Everything about this Forest set-up is different from the Nuno Espirito Santo side. For a couple of snapshots, how about Zinchenko and Anderson trying to dribble out of their own box, or Ibrahim Sangare looking for a short pass to Anderson after intercepting a cross on the penalty spot. On those occasions, they got away with it, but you suspect there will be plenty of times when they do not.

With Zinchenko, you take the rough with the smooth. Popping up in central midfield, the Ukrainian played a perfect ball to Arnaud Kalimuendo. Perhaps because he had only just come on, the Kalimuendo’s touch was poor and the chance was lost. At the other end, Natan failed to make contact from point-blank range after more risky defending from Forest.

Antony has become an idol for Betis since his move here but this was a frustrating game for him, summed up by an ambitious volley late on that went out for a throw-in. But seconds later, he was on hand to turn in Rodrigo Riquelme’s cross at the far post.