Betis 1 - Villarreal 1

Betis: Prats; Tais (Gudjonsson 61'), Belenguer, Juanito, Mingo (Luis Fernández 67'); Joaquín, Filipescu, Capi, Denilson; Casas (Amato 61'), Joao Tomas. 4-4-2.
Villarreal: López Vallejo; Galván, Berruet, Quique Alvarez, Arruabarrena; Jorge López (Cagna 67'), Galca, Calleja; Víctor; Palermo, Guayre (Escoda 57'). 4-3-1-2.

Team changes: Betis: Tais, Juanito, Filipescu, Joao Tomas for Varela, Rivas, Ito, Gudjonsson / Villarreal: Quique Alvarez, Arruabarrena, Calleja, Guayre for Xavi Roca, Ballesteros, Amor, Quique Martín.

Goals:
0-1. 19. Palermo. Shot low under Prats after Víctor laid ball back.
1-1. 60. Joaquín. Scored from close range after Denilson low cross from left.

Betis held on to joint second place after coming from behind to draw at home to Villarreal. Both managers picked attacking line ups, with Joao Tomas recovering from a knock last week to partner Casas and Capi in the home side front line and Guayre joining Víctor and Palermo up front for the visitors. Palermo had a goal disallowed for a foul on Juanito in the first minute, but gave the visitors the lead a quarter of an hour later with a shot which Prats should have blocked. That quietened down Betis who had been the better side up to that point, and Palermo almost scored again with a header which Prats saved well.

The Andalucian side came back though in the second half, with their two wingers Joaquín and Denilson outstanding. The pair combined on the hour mark, the Brazilian playing through a pinpoint pass for the Spanish under 21 international to score his third of the season. But just when they were at their best they found themselves down to ten men, their third and final substitute Luis Fernández being carried off unconscious only minutes after coming on following a clash of heads with Galván. He was taken to hospital for checks, but is expected to recover quickly. After four victories this was the first time that Betis had dropped points at home. Villarreal went back satisfied with the result, although they drop a place in the league to seventh after Alavés won at Valladolid.