Two points flew away tonight from Benito Villamarín although Real Betis Balompié fought to comeback after trailing 0-2. Athletic Club scored two goals in the first 17 minutes and Betis did not play fluently in the first half. However, Susaeta was sent off just before half time and the game changed completely. The team improved a lot in the second half and levelled up the score. The Green and Whites continued trying until the end, but it couldn't be.

From the kick-off, Athletic applied a very high pressure. In this way, the soon got their reward. The away players stole the ball and a cross to the box was shot by Raúl García but Pau López made a great save. The rebound fell again to García, who pass it back to Williams and the striker tapped it in.

Betis tried to react from this bad start but they weren't comfortable on the ball. One mistake in the beginning of a play and Athletic got their second. A bad pass to the middle and Raúl García shot from distance putting the ball past Pau. The team wanted to wake up from this nightmare and stretched their lines looking to attack more but they were lacking that shot or last pass.

The game changed substantially just before half time when Susaeta was shown the second yellow card in less than ten minutes, both of them fair.

The second half went then underway and Betis steeped in with the idea of going for the game. They took little time to have the first one, but Junior headed high a cross delivered by Francis. It was just a warning of what came soon afterwards. Bartra got the ball way outside the box and produced a superb shot that went in by the post.

The team were completely focused on attack and Athletic were defending with all their men, trying to catch a counterattack to harm the opponent. Setién decided to make some changes to give a more offensive edge to the team. And it paid off. Bartra sent a long pass to the left where Tello controlled the ball. The winger dribbled and assisted Canales, who controlled and shot a low strike that beat Simón.

Three minutes later, Loren had a superb occasion after a play by Canales, but Simón made fantastic save. The team went with everything and almost scored once again. A cross by Tello and Sanabria tapped the ball that went just a whisker away. Betis continued pushing, conscious that times was running out, while Athletic defended the siege with all their players inside the box.

The away team also wanted the game to be slowed down, wasting time constantly. However, Betis didn't give up and kept on trying. Sanabria had the best and last one, but his header missed the target by inches.

Real Betis Balompié: Pau López, Francis (Inui 77'), Mandi, Bartra, Sidnei, Junior (Tello 61'), Guardado, Lo Celso (Loren 64'), Canales, Joaquín, Sanabria.
Goals: Bartra (51'), Canales (68').
Booked: Canales (53').

Athletic Club: Unai Simón, De Marcos, Yeray, Íñigo Martínez, Balenziaga, Dani García, Beñat (San José 73'), Susaeta, Yuri Berchiche, Raúl García (Capa 56'), Williams (Muniain 81').
Goals: Williams (6'), Raúl García (17').
Booked: Susaeta (37'), Yeray (40'), Beñat (45'), Yuri (50'), Sidnei (69'), Martínez (86'), Simón (92').
Sent-off: Susaeta (45').