First Division - Day 5

Sevilla 1 - Betis 1

Sevilla: Notario; Njegus, Oscar, Pablo Alfaro, David; Casquero (Antoñito 46'), Samways; Gallardo (Redondo 83'), Reyes, Marcos Vales; Toedtli (Moisés 67'). 4-2-3-1.
Betis: Prats; Varela, Juanito, Arzu, Luis Fernández; Ito, Marcos Assunçao; Joaquín, Capi, Denilson (Fernando 70'); Alfonso (Casas 77'). 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Sevilla: Marcos Vales for Tomás / Betis: No change.

Goals:
0-1. 18. Joaquín. Far post header from close up after high Denilson cross.
1-1. 69. Juanito (own goal). Turned low cross from Reyes past own keeper.

High flying Betis were brought down to earth by the neighbours Sevilla, who came back from a goal down to draw 1-1. The game was marred once again though by crowd violence, with rival fans fighting and cameras catching a group of thugs beating up a security guard before the game as he tried to stop them stealing practise balls off the pitch. The worst incident though was when one young hooligan ran on the pitch to attack Betis keeper Prats, and after the match the disciplinary committee decided to close the Sánchez Pizjuan stadium for the next four home games. This comes after the Betis ground was shut for two games following similar violence in the previous derby game last season.

Apart from the scenes off the pitch though, the game itself was a joy to watch, with both sides giving their best in a display of attacking football. It was the on-form Betis who were in control in the opening minutes, and they got their reward with a quarter of an hour gone when Joaquín met a long Denilson cross on the far post to head past Notario. Sevilla gradually grafted their way back in to the game, and Samways tested Prats with a free kick before the break.

Caparrós threw on an extra attacker, youngster Antoñito, at half time, and ten minutes later his side hit the woodwork twice, Toedtli hitting the post and Reyes the bar on the follow up. Eventually the pressure paid off, and they levelled the scores when Juanito turned a cross from Reyes past his own keeper. After that both sides could have taken the lead, with Notario saving from Capi and the Betis defence blocking an effort from Reyes. In the end though a fair result, giving the home side their fourth draw of the season and leaving Betis in seventh place, pending their game in hand against Real Madrid on Tuesday.