Real Betis, Sevilla share derby spoils in La Liga

Staff WritersAP
Camera IconKike Salas leaps highest to head home Sevilla's goal in the derby draw with Real Betis. (EPA PHOTO) Credit: EPA

Real Betis have been left frustrated in their pursuit of a European place in Spain's La Liga after a 1-1 draw at home in the Seville derby.

Betis went ahead on Monday (AEST) with a goal by Isco in the 38th minute but Kike Salas equalised for Sevilla in the 56th, leaving Betis two points from sixth-placed Real Sociedad in the final Europa Conference League spot.

Fifth-placed Athletic Bilbao are nine points ahead of Betis in the final Europa League qualification place.

Sevilla stay 13th but opened a 12-point gap to the relegation zone with five rounds to go.

Betis were awarded a penalty kick for handball shortly after Sevilla levelled, but the call was reversed with the help of video review.

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Betis were coming off two straight victories -- against Celta Vigo and at Valencia -- after a run of four straight losses, while Sevilla had won three in a row.

It was the fourth consecutive draw between the city rivals.

Elsewhere, second-to-last Granada kept alive their slim chances of escaping relegation with a 3-0 rout of mid-table Osasuna.

It was the second win in three matches for the club from southern Spain, who are 10 points from safety and had not won in 11 consecutive games before that.

Cadiz, sitting in the final relegation spot, moved five points from safety after a 1-1 draw at home against 16th-place Mallorca, who are six points from the drop zone.

Rayo Vallecano, eight points above danger, lost 3-0 at Villarreal.

Real Madrid moved closer to the title by winning 1-0 at Real Sociedad on Saturday to open a 13-point lead over second-place Girona, who won 2-0 at Las Palmas on Sunday. Third-placed Barcelona, 14 points off the lead, host Valencia on Tuesday.

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