Real Betis 1-1 Sevilla FC
Real Betis and Sevilla shared the spoils at the Benito Villamarin today after a hard fought second half brought the game to life.
La Liga: Real Betis vs Sevilla is known as the Great Derby and it was anything but in the first 45 minutes. But the second period began explosively with a goal for each side in the first five minutes. Suso gave Sevilla a lead before Sergio Canales equalised from the penalty spot.
Betis had the best chance to win it when they were awarded another spot kick but this time Nabil Fekir’s effort was saved and the Andalusian rivals finished all square, with the Real Betis vs Sevilla betting odds offering 3.30 on the draw.
In the earlier kick-off, a 2-1 victory for Villarreal over Levante dropped Sevilla to fifth place in the table and that’s where they stay, but with games in hand.
Highlights of the game
It was one-way traffic throughout the first half as Real Betis set about their visitors. The lively Nabil Fekir took a pass from Aitor Ruibal and took aim from just outside the penalty area but his effort was charged down.
Sergio Canales fired one wide and, after more good work from Ruibal, Diego Lainez had a shot blocked. Lainez then turned provider for Fekir but the France striker’s effort flew wide of the right had post, before Guido Rodriguez was the next to try his luck but his shot from distance was over the bar.
Sevilla finally had an effort, though not from open play, when Victor Ruiz felled Luuk de Jong in a dangerous position and received a yellow card, but Joan Jordan fired the free kick past the left post.
Fekir continued to buzz around the Sevilla penalty area and he teed up Lainez who had a shot blocked while, Ruibal missed with another long range effort.
The visitors were happy to go on level while Los Verdiblancos were left to rue their missed chances.
After a rather turgid opening 45 minutes, particular from a Sevilla point of view, the second half began in explosive fashion. And it was the visitors who took the lead on 48 minutes when Suso found himself in space in the Betis penalty area and fired a low shot into the bottom corner giving Claudio Bravo no chance.
That was a cruel blow to Betis but they fought back immediately. Loren Moron was too quick for Sevilla centre back Diego Carlos who fouled him to concede a penalty, and up stepped captain Sergio Canales to fire home the spot kick to make it 1-1.
Sevilla star man Lucas Ocampos had been quiet but he came close to scoring, on the hour but his shot whistled narrowly wide of the right post, but Betis had a golden chance to regain their lead when Fekir won a penalty with just 15 minutes left.
Why Canales didn’t take it I’m not sure. Maybe because Fekir won the spot kick he thought he deserved to take it, but the decision backfired when Sevilla keeper Bono guessed right and dived low to his left to save.
As both sides went for the win Nemanja Gudelj forced a save from Bravo and, after Ruibal and Lainez both had efforts for Betis, Sevilla came very close when Jesus Navas planted a header inches wide.
Key statistics
The Real Betis vs Sevilla highlights tell a story of total domination by the hosts in the first half but with no end product. Sevilla had slightly more possession but not in their opponents half as they registered just a single shot to Real Betis’ eight, though neither goalkeeper was troubled once.
The second half was much better, though Betis remained the more adventurous, finishing with 16 shots to six and three to two on target.
The draw took Los Verdiblancos up to ninth in the league table while Sevilla stayed fifth.
What’s next?
Sevilla came into this game on the back of an impressive victory over Villarreal, ending the Yellow Submarine’s 19 game unbeaten run, but they will be happy with a point today.
And now they have a big ten days ahead, starting with a Copa del Rey date away to Segunda Division B side Linares Deportivo, and then two huge La Liga games come into view. First Sevilla entertain Real Sociedad, who led the league in the early weeks but have stumbled badly, and then they visit Madrid to take on top side Atletico.
Meanwhile Real Betis visits Tercera Division outfit UD Mutilvera in the Copa, before an away league match at SD Huesca who sit bottom of the table but still with hope, just three points from safety.
Keep on tracking the news and action here at SBOTOP and we’ll keep it coming.
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