El Gran Derbi belongs to Sevilla

Betis is playing the best season in the last fifteen years, but Sevilla is still better. In the big city derby, Sevilla showed again that they are a class above Betis and with a 2:1 victory firmly grasped the second position at La Liga table, while also made life tougher for their bitter rivals in their fight for the Champions League spot. Much easier than expected, Sevilla coped with the green and whites. As rarely before, El Gran Derbi brought a clash between the second-placed and third-placed Primera team. So far, one of the rivals has always been in weaker form and far from fighting for the top. Behind both teams were successful European exams during the week and placements in the eighth finals of the Europa League, and Betis also benefited from the fact that he recently eliminated his city rival from the King's Cup.

Still, the tradition is firmly with Seville, at least in this century. For the sixth time in the last seven championship matches, the hosts defeated the green and whites. Julen Lopetegui haven’t lost the last six La Liga derbies, and he is now closed to the record holder Joaquin Caparos, who had a series of seven derbies without defeat. Lopetegui had big problems before the match due to injuries to Kunde and Rekik, so he started in the stopper pair with the insufficiently recovered Carlos and midfielder Fernando. However, it was once again clear why Sevilla is the best defense in the league.

Betis tried to attack high at the beginning of the match and made a mistake. They left enought space for the rival who punished it after about twenty minutes of play. Phenomenally, Jesus Corona played, sent the ideal ball in front of Betis' goal, and there Bartra made the first mistake, followed by goalkeeper Bravo, who knocked down Anne Nesiri and and the referee pointed at the spot, which was converted by Ivan Rakitic. And while the green and whites were trying to consolidate, another shock followed. Betis' defense fell asleep again. Goalkeeper Bono crossed the last line of Betis with a long shot, Munir avoided the offside and shot accurately under Bravo's arm. The Chilean had a really bad day on Betis' goal.

As expected, Betis attacked more in the second half, but Sevilla withstood all the attacks much easier than expected. Pellegrini's team had chances through Tello, Moreno and others, but all they managed was the honorable goal of Canales deep into injury time, when all was over.

LA LIGA - ROUND 26

Friday

Levante - Elche 3-0 (1-0)

/Morales 37, De Frutos 67, Melero 90/

Saturday

Mallorca - Valencia 0-1 (0-1)

/Gabriel 4/

Getafe - Alaves 2-2 (0-1)

/Unal 55, 72 - Escalante 45+1, Mendez 56/

Rayo Vallecano - Real Madrid 0-1 (0-0)

/Benzema 83/

Atletico Madrid - Celta 2-0 (1-0)

/Lodi 36, 60/

Sunday

Villareal - Espanyol x-x (3-0)

/Pino 14, 20, 45+1, 53 - Bare 65/

Sevilla - Betis 2-1 (2-0)

/Rakitic 24(p) Munir 41 - Canales 90+4/

20:30: (1.85) Sociedad (3.40) Osasuna (4.60)

23:00: (1.62) Barcelona (3.90) Ath.Bilbao (6.50)

Monday

23:00: (2.05) Granada (3.40) Cadiz (4.10)

***odds are subject to change