Betis came into the game seeking their second win of the season, while Sociedad were still searching for their first success of the campaign.
It was the home side who got the breakthrough inside seven minutes, when Giovani Lo Celso broke through La Real’s defence and picked out Cucho Hernandez. The Colombian took a touch before turning towards goal and lashing the ball into the roof of the net.
Click here to follow your favourite players with Flashscore
The home side’s lead was short-lived, however, as Sociedad hit back through Brais Mendez. The visitors pounced on a defensive mistake from the hosts, and Ander Barrenetxea rounded the goalkeeper before laying off to Mendez, who curled home.
But following the early goals, neither side looked likely to push on, and the game petered out in a stop-start fashion, with six yellow cards being handed out in the opening 45 minutes.
Betis got off to a flying start again following the restart, this time finding the back of the net within four minutes, as Abde Ezzalzouli towered in the box to head home from Pablo Fornals’ cross – the goal was eventually given as an OG to goalkeeper Alex Remiro.
Sergio Francisco looked for his side to immediately respond by making four changes around the hour mark, but they had little to no effect.
Instead, Betis put the game out of sight on 69 minutes, when another cross into the Sociedad box caused trouble, as this time Hector Bellerín’s ball into the danger area was slid home by Fornals.
That goal proved to be the hammer blow and ended any hopes of a comeback from a limp La Real, sealing Betis’ second win of the league campaign and provisionally sending them into the top four.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Pablo Fornals (Real Betis)
Click here for more on the match
