Real Betis’ journey in Copa del Rey came to an early end tonight after the defeat against RC Deportivo de La Coruña. The team couldn’t make the advantage obtained in the first leg prevail.

Bothe team began the match pressing very high on the rival, and not letting each other create chances. In the first ball that went into the box, though, the home team scored. A free-kick delivered by Fajr and Arribas was left off mark and made the opener. Just ten minutes had gone by and Betis had already lost the advantage of the first leg. The goal hurt the team and Deportivo continued to attack.

However, after 15 minutes, the team turned the whole situation upside down and started to have long possessions. The first good chance was for Piccini, who received a cross by Durmisi but sent his effort into the goalkeeper. Two minutes later, Dani Ceballos gave a fantastic pass to Álex Alegría, but again Rubén aborted the chance. These couple of chances gave wings to the team. Dani Ceballos conducted the game and was making the team play really well at this stage. Alegría had another great chance after a cross by Durmisi, but his header went wide.

After half time, Deportivo came on strong again and, as it happened in the first half, took little time to score. Another free-kick delivered by Fajr, this time cleared by Pezzella, but Luisinho connected a volley outside the box sending a screamer into the net. That goal knocked Betis out almost completely, and five minutes later, the team conceded another goal. Juanfran delivered a cross and Babel was faster than the defenders and headed the third in for his team. It looked like that goal had definitively closed the game, but the team got back in the game.

A quick play built by the team in the left, Durmisi passed the ball to Sanabria, and the Paraguayan crossed it to the far post, where Piccini pushed the ball in. At the same time, Víctor Sánchez decided to make a double offensive substitution, and Rubén Castro and Jonas Martin replaced Petros and Mandi. The team reacted and went into attack with everything. However, the game could have ended worse when the referee whistled for penalty after Piccini tackled Babel. Joselu took the ball but missed.

The team still had two chances to score that goal that would have qualified the team. None of them went in. In the end, a defeat that leaves a bitter taste.

RC Deportivo de La Coruña: Rubén, Juanfran, Arribas, Sidnei, Luisinho, Mosquera (Borges 90), Guilherme, Fayçal Fajr, Babel (Emre Çolak 88), Marlos (Bruno Gama 78) y Joselu.
Goals: Arribas (10), Luisinho (53), Babel (59).
Booked: Joselu (80).

Real Betis Balompié: Dani Giménez, Piccini, Bruno, Mandi (Rubén Castro 66), Pezzella, Durmisi, Donk (Felipe Gutiérrez 82), Petros (Jonas Martin 66), Dani Ceballos, Álex Alegría y Sanabria.
Goals: Piccini (66).
Booked: Bruno (57), Ceballos (78), Jonas Martin (91).