Betis 2 - Villarreal 1

Betis: Prats; Tais, Melli, Arzu, Luis Fernández (Flores 75'); Marcos Assunçao, Fernando; Joaquín, Capi, Denilson (César 88'), Joao Tomas (Cañas 60'). 4-2-3-1.
Villarreal: Reina; Galván, Quique Alvarez, Ballesteros, Arruabarrena; Guayre, Marcos Senna (Josico 43'), Farinós, Jorge López (Aranda 73'); Víctor (Calleja 60'), Palermo. 4-4-2.

Team changes: Betis: Tais, Fernando, Joao Tomas for Varela, Ito, Gastón Casas / Villarreal: Arruabarrena, Guayre for Unai, Belletti.

Goals:
1-0. 16. Denilson. Chested down cross from right and lobbed ball over keeper.
2-0. 77. Denilson. Controlled long clearance from Tais to shoot hard past Reina.
2-1. 83. Aranda. Ran on to Calleja cross to shoot low past Prats.

Betis take over from Deportivo in fourth place after defeating Villarreal 2-1, setting up an interesting match between them and the Gallicians next weekend. Both of their goals came from Denilson, the first a delightful chip over the keeper early in the first half after he controlled a long cross from Joaquín, (only his second goal of the season), and the second a fierce shot from the left after the break which Reina could only fist into his own goal. The keeper made a spectacular save from a Joao Tomas header in between, but Aranda made the last few minutes interesting after he turned Guayre's cross past Prats near the end, possibly his last goal before moving on loan to Numancia. The bad news for Benito Floro though was a serious ligament injury to Marcos Senna which could keep him out for the rest of the season.