The eternal rivalry that exists between Betis and Sevilla since the beginning of the 20th Century is back again. A way of understanding football and, perhaps, life itself.

Since then, around a hundred years from now, the antagonism between béticos and sevillistas has been one of the city's trademarks and an attitude that has remained unchanged in spite of historical events.

This identity feature makes impossible to be neutral in the everyday life and, more particularly, when these two sides clash on the lawn.

All the béticos have memories of the visits of the everlasting rival to their home ground. Some are happy and others not so much. As life itself. Days of ecstasy and days of sorrow. Moments that remain in their memories such as mythological goals and impossible plays. The immortality of the heroes that rule in the kingdom of dreams.

I'm part of a generation who always saw Sevilla play in red when they came to Heliópolis. Once, in 1972, with a wide claret stripe on a white shirt and, more recently, with thin white stripes on a red shirt. And, in October 1973, with red shirt and white trunks.

In May 2018, they played dressed in black and that was strange. A recent match that ended with 2-2 in the score, with goals from Bartra and Loren, at the beginning and at the end respectively.

However, the most peculiar thing in the last 50 years has been to see the rival coming out the dressing room dressed in white. Something that, as far as I can remember, only happened twice. And not in LaLiga, but both times in that trophy called City of Seville that occurred in the 70s.

The first time was in August 1975. An unforgettable night. Real Betis, with green trunks, deservedly won 1-0. Eduardo Anzarda scored and his goal was the perfect example of the cunning and coldness the Argentine striker always showed.  A loose ball inside the area, a dribble to the keeper and pass into the net.

Two years later, same final of the City of Seville trophy. The rival again dressed completely in white and Real Betis opted for their eternal colours. Vertical Green and White stripes and White trunks. The first and only time that both sides have both worn their traditional colours in the same game.

The Stadium was completely full and the expectation was understandable. That was one of the happiest summers in modern times for the béticos. They were still enjoying the Copa del Rey title won the previous season.

It was the last week of August. In the first semifinal, Sevilla beat Benfica 3-0 and, in the other, Real Betis had to face Vasas Budapest, a powerful Hungarian team.

It was a tight match but Betis fairly won. A goal from Hugo Cabezas in the 54th minute decided the match. The dreamed final was going to take place.

A final that came 48 hours later and, again, gathered the whole city together. A completely sold out Benito Villamarín Stadium, where drum rolls and ovations were endless. That night, at 10 o´clock, both teams stepped into the pitch and Betis were already leading. The Youth Trophy, played a few hours before, had been won by the Green and Whites against Sevilla.

Then, the main course. The pinnacle of Seville's passion. Each time wore their traditional colours and a foreign referee was designated for the game, the Frenchman René Vigliani. These were the line-ups:

Real Betis: Esnaola, Bizcocho, Biosca, Sabaté, Benítez, López, Alabanda, Cardeñosa, García Soriano (Del Pozo), Hugo Cabezas (Muhren), Ladinszky (Eulate).

Sevilla FC: Paco, Juanito, Gallego, Rivas, Sanjosé, Blanco (Varela), Jaén, Rubio, Scotta, Montero, Biri.

The match was as passionate as expected. A fierce fight. López and Sanjosé were sent off and the whole event was marked by, as the press used to say, 'strong rivalry.'

The score was 0-0 at half time, but Betis imposed their football in the second half. Attila Ladinszky opened the score, but Scotta tied up a minute later. From that moment, the Green and Whites dominated completely and their control was materialized in two penalties. Bothe scored by Ladinszky. A hat trick that made him hero of the trophy.

A week later, LaLiga began and when Sevilla visited Villamarín (something that happened on the 19th of March of 1978), they played completely in red. The common thing, except that time in 218 when they dressed in black.

And, of course, they were never seen again in white in Heliópolis.