Betis 0 - Deportivo La Coruña 2

Betis: Prats; Varela, Melli, Arzu, Filipescu (Calado 70'); Marcos Assunçao, Cañas; Joaquín, Capi, Denilson; Joao Tomas (Gastón Casas 70'). 4-2-3-1. Deportivo: Juanmi; Héctor, César, Naybet, Romero; Sergio, Duscher, Mauro Silva, Amavisca (Capdevila 72'); Makaay (Luque 85'), Diego Tristán (Toro Acuña 76'). 4-4-2.

Team changes: Betis: Varela, Filipescu, Cañas for Tais, Luis Fernández, Fernando / Deportivo: Naybet, Duscher, Amavisca, Diego Tristán for Donato, Víctor, Fran, Luque.

Goals:
0-1. 61. Diego Tristán. Glancing header across keeper from Sergio's cross.
0-2. 73. Makaay. Got on the end of long Sergio free kick to head down past Prats.

Deportivo got their revenge on Betis, who humiliated them in the opening match of the season at the Riazor stadium. This time it was the Gallicians' turn to win away, and their 0-2 victory took them back up above their opponents into the fourth Champions League spot. The visitors were on a roll after winning through to the semi-final of the cup on Thursday night, although the nail biting finish left several of the players tired and Irureta changed several of his team for this game. Víctor Fernández put out the best side he could, although injuries and suspensions meant that youngsters Arzu and Melli lined up again in the centre of defence.

The main problem for Betis this season though has been the lack of a reliable striker, and the transfer window closed last Friday without them being able to sign Tote or any other of the possible candidates. With Alfonso now under the surgeon's knife, Joao Tomas was given the nod again ahead of Gastón Casas, but he was unable to connect with any of the services provided to him by Joaquín and Denilson, and the sides went in at the break goal-less.

The difference between the two teams was even more apparent in the second half, and Depor showed their opponents how to take their opportunities, with first Diego Tristán beating Prats with a glancing header from Sergio's cross, and then Makaay heading home a long free kick from the midfielder twelve minutes later. Casas came on for Tomas, but there was not much change, and only Denilson and Assunçao gave Juanmi any work to do in the closing minutes.