First Division - Day 1

Betis 1 – Villarreal 1

Betis: Adán; Piccini, Bruno González, Pezzella, Vargas; Cejudo (Dani Ceballos 65‘), Xavi Torres, N'Diaye (Fabián 76’), Portillo; Jorge Molina (Rennella 81‘), Rubén Castro. 4-4-2.
Villarreal: Areola; Mario Gaspar, Eric Bailly, Víctor Ruíz, Jaume Costa; Nahuel, Tomás Pina, Bruno Soriano, Samu Castillejo (Manu Trigueros 77‘); Leo Baptistao (Bakambu 61‘), Soldado (Samuel 67‘). 4-4-2.

Goals:
0-1. 32. Soldado. Pulled down Jaume punt and steered angled shot past Adán.
1-1. 87. Castro. Turned ball in from close up after Areola saved Torres header.

Yellow cards: Bruno González 26’, Cejudo 35’, Samu Castillejo 49’, Pezzella 50’ / red cards: Bruno Soriano 92’.

Betis and Villarreal drew 1-1 in the last game of Sunday evening, a result which actually leaves both teams in joint fifth place given the rest of the weekend results. Roberto Soldado celebrated his return to La Liga with the opening goal on the half hour mark, the ex Tottenham striker pulling down a long punt from Jaume Costa before steering an angled shot past Adán. Nahel should have added to the lead in the second half when he shot against the crossbar with the keeper gone walk-about, but with three minutes to go the newly promoted side equalized after Areola could only push out a long shot from Pezzella, the keeper getting a hand to a follow up header from Xavi Torres, but unable to prevent Rubén Castro from turning the rebound in to the net. Nerves were frayed after that, and Villarreal captain Bruno got himself sent off for kicking an opponent in an off the ball incident.