Betis 3 - Málaga 0

Betis: Contreras; Varela, Juanito, Lembo, Luis Fernández (Rivas 76'); Joaquín, Ito, Benjamín (Arzu 73'), Ismael; Tote, Alfonso (Dani 66'). 4-4-2.
Málaga: Calatayud; Josemi, Fernando Sanz, Litos (Manu 46'), Valcarce; Miguel Angel, Romero (Gerardo 73'); Edgar, Insúa (Leko 66'), Duda; Salva. 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Betis: Lembo, Ismael, Benjamín, Alfonso for Rivas, Arzu, Capi, Denilson / Málaga: No change.

Goals:
1-0. 07. Alfonso. Cut in from left wing past defence and hit deflected shot into net.
2-0. 48. Joaquín. Got on end of Tote's cross to fire low shot past keeper.
3-0. 59. Romero (own goal). Turned goal past own keeper from Joaquín's cross.

Betis moved away from the drop zone after a convincing 3-0 win over their Andalucian neighbours Málaga. The Sevilla based side started their match in the bottom three after wins for Celta and Real Sociedad the day before, and Víctor Fernández put out an ambitious line up, drafting in Alfonso to play alongside Tote up front. And the veteran striker reminded the fans of old times when he cut in from the left wing past five defenders before hitting a deflected shot into the back of the net with only seven minutes gone.

Alfonso had another goal disallowed for a questionable foul by Lembo, and Benjamín brought a good save out of Calatayud before the break from a free kick. Málaga's only response had been a weak effort from Salva, and they found themselves further behind when Alfonso and Tote combined to set up Joaquín for him to shoot low into the net. And there was third goal to come when Romero turned the ball into his own net after Calatayud blocked Joaquín's shot.

Tote should have made it four had he not decided to try a fancy "rabona" when free in front of the keeper, but it didn't matter. Betis had won at home for only the second time in the league, and Víctor Fernández can breath easy for another week.