Real Sociedad 3 - Betis 3

Real Sociedad: Westerveld; López Rekarte, Jauregi, Schürrer, Aranzábal; Xabi Alonso (Llorente 76'), Aranburu; Karpin, Nihat, Gabilondo (De Pedro 76'); Kovacevic (Tayfun 86'). 4-2-3-1.
Betis: Prats; Varela, Juanito, Rivas, Luis Fernández (Benjamín 85'); Arzu, Marcos Assunçao; Joaquín (Fernando 50'), Capi, Denilson (Mingo 63'); Alfonso. 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Real: No change / Betis: No change.

Goals:
0-1. 14. Capi. Ran on to Alfonso headed pass to lift ball past keeper.
0-2. 26. Capi. First time shot after Joaquín laid across Assunçao long pass.
1-2. 30. Rivas (own goal). Headed past keeper trying to clear Aranburu cross.
2-2. 58. Kovacevic. Far post header down into net after López Rekarte cross.
2-3. 61. Alfonso. Volley under keeper after Alonso deflected Capi centre.
3-3. 79. Kovacevic. Powerful header into top corner from De Pedro cross.

An exciting match between Real Sociedad and Betis, which lived up to it's billing with a 3-3 scoreline between two of the league's most on-form teams. Both managers named unchanged sides after excellent starts to the season, and the action started right from the first minute when Marcos Assunçao proved that he doesn't always hit the woodwork with his free kicks, his effort this time going just wide. Nihat raced down the other end and also just missed the target before Capi put the visitors ahead, running on to Alfonso's headed pass to lift the ball over the advancing Westerveld.

A few minutes later the Spanish international got his second of the night in a lightening quick breakaway, Assunçao thumping a long ball out to the right wing for Joaquín to lay it into his path with his first touch. This was not the old Real Sociedad though, and just four minutes later they were back in it, Rivas headed Aranburu's cross past his own keeper under pressure from Kovacevic. The young defender made up for his mistake soon afterwards, clearing Nihat's effort off the line with Prats beaten and stopping another effort from Kovacevic.

Real kept up the pressure after the break and although Prats saved from Kovacevic, he could do nothing a couple of minutes later when Karpin put López Rekarte away down the right for him to find the head of Kovacevic with a floated cross. Now it was Betis' turn to respond, and they took the lead again when Alfonso volleyed Capi's deflected cross low under the ex Liverpool keeper.

Víctor Fernández decided to pull in his wings, literally this time, and having taken off Joaquín earlier on he replaced Denilson with the more defensive Mingo. It didn't stop the Basque side though, and once again Kovacevic was there to cannon a fierce header past Prats from De Pedro's cross. Llorente went close to winning it for the home side in the last minute when his header was turned on to the bar by the Betis keeper, but that would have been unfair. Each deserved to get something out of this match, and on this form both will be amongst the honours list at the end of the season. A great advert for Spanish football.