Sevilla and Betis settled for a 1-1 draw with the visitors finding the back of the net after the break. Ayoze Perez stood out, and Ivan Rakitic was notable at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán stadium, as Betis let slip victory against an opponent that offered limited attacking threat and scoring chances.
Sevilla, who controlled the first half with a clear edge over Betis, watched their guests respond early in the second minute but could not prevent the green-and-white side from taking the lead in the 72nd minute. Ayoze did score in the second period, yet Rakitic equalized in the 79th minute, easing the sting for a side that collected its fifth draw in the league under its current manager in the last four matches. Diego Alonso has yet to win the league this season.
Hé Stadion Sánchez-Pizjuán hosted another derby between Sevilla and their fiercest rivals, with both teams arriving in starkly different moods. Betis entered the match on an eleven-game unbeaten run, while Sevilla were enduring a difficult stretch marked by urgency and nerves on the pitch. Manager Diego Alonso faced questions from a large portion of the home support.
There were few changes in Nervión as the Uruguayan coach made five predictable alterations following a setback and a poor showing in the Champions League clash against Arsenal (2-0) on Wednesday. Jesus Navas started on the right, Rakitic was in midfield with Soumaré and Oliver Torres supporting, and Lucas Ocampos and Oliver En-Nesyri were used to sharpen the attack.
Betis lined up with Fran Vieites in goal due to Claudio Bravo’s injury, with Rui Silva also unavailable. Manuel Pellegrini kept the XI from Betis’s last two league wins against Osasuna and Mallorca, marking a cautious but functional approach.
Isco, the former Sevilla man who left the club last year, immediately looked like a key figure for Heliópolis. He created and threatened from the start, sprinting into space after 40 seconds and testing the Serbian goalkeeper with a low, well-placed header that Marko Dmitrovic handled comfortably. The early warning set the tone for a dynamic first half.
Betis began with intent, and a telling run from Guido Rodríguez nearly broke the deadlock. The ensuing moment saw a goal disallowed for an offside, briefly relieving Sevilla as Betis pushed higher. Bellerín followed up with a shot that skimmed past the post, while Gudelj and Sevilla’s defence weathered the pressure as Betis pressed with more vigor but found it hard to convert their chances into clear scoring opportunities. Ocampos stood out as a beacon for Sevilla, but the rest of the team struggled to find cohesion in the first half.
Betis’s organization and the presence of Guido Rodríguez and Marc Roca in midfield created a solid core for the visitors. Isco looked especially influential, guiding play and linking lines, with Willian José arriving later to add new life. The breakthrough came in the 34th minute when Miranda delivered a precise cross from the left and Dmitrovic was unable to reach a looping finish. Betis celebrated, but the goal was not enough to secure a lead on the day.
Isko, introduced in the ensuing action, produced a moment of spark with a shot that Pedrosa saved after a striking move inside the area. The first half closed with Betis feeling the momentum settle more comfortably against Sevilla, who appeared flat in attack and hesitant in defense.
After the break, Sevilla grew livelier as Soumare found more range in the center, Rakitic increased his activity in midfield, and Ocampos continued to drive the team forward. The visitors had a clear plan, and their intensity gradually paid off as the clock moved into the hour mark. Ayoze Perez produced intelligent movement and controlled the ball with poise, spinning away from a challenge and laying the ball back for a strike that went just wide from the left post. Minutes later, in the 62nd minute, Ayoze re-emerged and forced a sharp save from Dmitrovic as the keeper punched clear a powerful attempt.
The goal finally arrived in the 72nd minute for Betis through Ayoze, who finished decisively after forcing a loose clearance and meeting a well-placed cross. The lead lasted only seven minutes, however, as Rakitic struck with a firm, precise right-hand finish to restore parity near the end, pulling Sevilla level with a moment of class that changed the mood around the stadium.
The derby intensified as both teams pressed for a winner. Betis created several chances through Miranda, and later a combination between Isco and other teammates threatened the Sevilla goal, while Sevilla pressed to edge ahead. In the final stages, both sides had chances, yet the scoreboard remained unmoved, delivering a draw that felt earned for Betis given their earlier control and the late pressure Sevilla produced as the match approached its conclusion.
Earlier, Nervión’s side had tested the young Betic goalkeeper Friday with a series of shots, signaling their intent to dictate the tempo. En-Nesyri also headed a Pedrosa cross without finding the target, while Pedrosa himself came close to registering with a late attempt. The derby finished with neither team able to secure a late winner, leaving supporters to reflect on a contest that delivered intensity, tactical discipline, and a fair share of memorable moments, including Ayoze Perez’s decisive early impact and Rakitic’s equalizer which salvaged a point for Sevilla. The game underscored how both sides can blend high energy with strategic intent when needed, and it added another chapter to a storied local rivalry.