Betis 3 - Real Sociedad 2

Betis: Prats; Varela, Arzu, Melli, Filipescu; Ito, Marcos Assunçao (Cañas 88'); Joaquín, Capi, Denilson (Dani 68'); Fernando. 4-2-3-1.
Real Sociedad: Westerveld; López Rekarte, Jauregi, Schürrer, Aranzábal; Boris, Mikel Alonso (Tayfun 64'); Karpin, Nihat, Barkero (Gabilondo 90'); Kovacevic. 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Betis: Melli, Ito for Luis Fernández, Cañas / Real: Boris, Mikel Alonso, Nihat for Tayfun, Xabi Alonso, Khokhlov.

Goals:
1-0. 11. Fernando. Ran in to head lofted Varela cross down past keeper.
1-1. 73. Nihat. Bent free kick over wall and in to bottom corner of net.
1-2. 78. Nihat. Ran on to shoot past Prats after Kovacevic cut in from right.
2-2. 87. Filipescu. Hooked Assunçao free kick high over his head over keeper.
3-2. 94. Fernando (penalty). After Dani pulled down in area by Jauregi.

Leaders Real Sociedad missed out on the chance to open up a big gap at the top after they were beaten 3-2 by Betis. It was a thrilling match, with the lead changing hands three times and the winning goal coming from a dubious penalty in the fifth minute of injury time. Both sides came in to the game suffering a mini-crisis, with the home side having lost their last two games and the visitors having only picked up one point of a possible six. Both were also missing key players, Víctor Fernández missing his first choice central defenders and striker and Raynald Denoueix without midfielders Zabi Alonso, Aranburu and De Pedro. The French manager drafted in Xabi's younger brother Mikel to cover for him alongside Boris, but at least could count on Nihat returning after a one match ban.

The last match between these two sides earlier in the season finished 3-3, and the first goal came early again, Fernando getting above Jauregi to head home a lofted pass from Varela in the eleventh minute. After that either side could have scored, with Barkero volleying wide across goal before the break, and Joaquín cutting through the defence but unable to find the target in the second half. Denoueix brought on Tayfun, and soon afterwards Kovacevic hit the post as Real piled on the pressure. A minute or so later they were level, Nihat striking a curling a free kick over the defensive wall and in to the net, and five minutes later the Turkish international put his side ahead, connecting with a first time shot as Kovacevic ran the ball across from the right.

With Madrid already having lost, it looked as if the Basques were going to open up a big lead over their rivals. However Betis were not out of it, and soon after Westerveld had to tip a Marcos Assunçao free kick over the bar, the Andalucians equalised with a freak goal when Filipescu hooked another Assunçao free kick up in the air, the ball dropping over the head of the stranded keeper and in to the net. Then in the last minute Spanish under 21 international Dani, making his first appearance after a ten month lay off with a knee injury, fell in the area under a challenge by Jauregi. It was no different than five or six previous incidents in both areas, but this time referee Téllez Sánchez pointed to the penalty spot. Jauregi got his second yellow card for protesting and had to leave the field, and Fernando stepped up to coolly slot the ball wide of Westerveld. .