Real Betis was defeated in its visit to Real Sociedad. The men managed by Juan Merino paid a heavy price for its awful first half and went into half time 2-0 in the score. Rubén Castro scored early in the second period but the team was unable to tie up the score.

Since the very beginning it was clear that both teams were playing at two different paces. Real Sociedad claimed possession and took control during the first 45 minutes. In the starting minutes, Real Sociedad was having difficulties to reach the box defended by Adán, as Betis defence was well settled on the pitch. However, the Green-and-White team wasn’t able to create sensible plays and was constantly losing the ball.

In this fashion, in the 18^th minute, the home team took advantage in their first clear chance. A play on the left by Héctor Hernández who sent a good cross to the heart of the penalty area. There, Xabi Prieto appeared coming from behind and connected a good header that went past Adán. The goal didn’t make Real Betis react, and the team continued in the same way. Real Sociedad was the team in charge. Betis was trying to play long balls, but without much accuracy.

After half an hour of play, Real Sociedad hitted hard again. And again in an aerial ball. A free-kick started by Pardo, whose cross found Íñigo Martínez in the far post. The central defender was faster than Betis players and headed the ball in with strength to make the second for his team. In the final minutes of the first half, Real Betis tried to stretch its lines and got closer to the opposite box, but without putting Rulli in trouble.

Real Betis started the second half in a completely different way. Merino made two substitutions at the break trying to change the attacking force of his team. Van Wolfswinkel and Joaquín replaced Fabián and Molinero. Therefore, Cejudo took the role of right back. The team went on attack and obtained a reward soon. Good play from Ricky Van Wolfswinkel on the right wing. The striker gave a good pass to his fellow mate in the attack, Rubén Castro, and the Spaniard just had to tap the ball in.

Two minutes later, Real Betis had another good option. Joaquín dribbled Héctor and sent a lobbed cross to the far post, where Van Wolfswinkel could not connect a god strike. The team continued trying, although it was more a matter of will than clear vision of the game. On the other side, Real Sociedad tried to counterattack and send long balls to Jonathas, without much success, though.

Step by step, the match slowed down and lost intensity. Real Sociedad wanted the match to finish and was trying to lose time in almost every play, and stop Betis attempts in any possible way. Betis still had a good option a few minutes before the end with an attack play from N’Diaye on the left. The midfielder sent a cross and, after a raveled play inside the box, Van Wolfswinkel did not shoot well.

The final minutes did not have many remarkable plays. Real Betis was defeated by its own lack of calm and couldn’t trabsform its energy towards the opposite goal.

Real Sociedad: Rulli, Elustondo (Zaldúa 46), Mikel, Íñigo Martínez, Héctor, Illarramendi, Pardo (Bruma 74), Oyarzábal (Bergara 56), Xabi Prieto, Vela, Jonathas.
Goals: Prieto 18, Íñigo Martínez 33.
Booked: Pardo 57.

Real Betis Balompié: Adán, Molinero (Joaquín 46), Pezzella, Bruno, Varela (Dani Ceballos 71), Petros, N’Diaye, Cejudo, Portillo, Fabián (Van Wolfswinkel 46), Rubén Castro.
Goals: Rubén Castro 50.
Booked: Molinero 36, Cejudo 60, Portillo 90, Joaquín 90+1.