Fifteen years after the last time, Real Betis Balompié will be in the Copa del Rey semi-finals. In a breath-taking game, the away team took the advantage in the first half but Lo Celso levelled up fifteen minutes before the end. Once in the extra time, Sergio León and Mandi got the team through the next round.

The first occasion of the game came just after the start with a shot from Baptistao that Robles blocked. The visitors had come on with high pressing but soon Betis got the possession and tried to impose their own pace.

However, during the first minutes of the game, both teams were quite even. The pace of game started to lower down due to many fouls and interruptions. Espanyol were defending with their lines and using long balls. Halfway the first half, Baptistao had an unbeatable chance to score but, alone inside the small box, he hit the crossbar.

The first one for Betis came just at the half an hour of game in a corner kick that Mandi finished over the bar. Two minutes later, Espanyol took the lead. Sánchez delivered a free-kick to the near post where Baptistao headed it back straight into the net. The former Betis player, even if it was for six months, did not celebrate the goal.

Canales almost levelled the score up before half time but he shot a free kick just wide.

The second half went underway without changes in any of the teams. It seemed that Betis had come on with a more attacking edge. Also, the rivals were tackling quite hard, especially Lainez, but the referee did not listen to complaints. In the 53rd minute, Carvalho fell injured and had to leave. The team had to play for a few minutes with ten men because the cgange was not ready.

The best so far for the team was for Sergio León, who had just come on. Sidnei delivered a long pass to the back of the defence where León made a run and set foot inside the box, but Roberto send the ball to corner kick. The stands were bursting and the team continued pushing.

With Espanyol under siege, Betis were trying tirelessly. Finally, the goal came. Joaquín gave a great pass to Lo Celso who controlled and shot from inside the box with the outside of the boot to the bottom corner. Great play and superb goal. The team did not stop and continued trying for the goal that would avoid the extra time. Bartra tried from distance, but Roberto saved it. In the added time, Roca saw his second yellow card for a foul on Lo Celso. There was no time for anything else and the game had to continue.

The extra time began and soon had Betis their first chance with a screamer from Loren that Roberto saved with his fingertips. A couple of minutes later, Guardado tried from the same spot, missing the target by a small distance.

The goal did not take long, though. A good pass between lines towards León, who got the ball, dribbled a defender and put the ball past the goalkeeper. Three minutes later, it was Mandi who caught a loose ball after a corner kick and did not miss from short-range.

Nothing much happened, as Betis controlled the second half of the extra time through ball possession. The visitors tried with a couple of set plays with no consequences.

Real Betis Balompié: Joel Robles, Francis, Mandi, Bartra, Sidnei, Guardado (Javi García 103'), Carvalho (Joaquín 55'), Canales, Lo Celso, Lainez (Sergio León 61'), Loren. Goals: Lo Celso (76'), León (95'), Mandi (98'). Booked: Lainez (35'), Lo Celso (50'), Mandi (71'), Canales (90'), León (90'+1'), Francis (115').

RCD Espanyol: Roberto, Javi López, Hermoso, Lluís, Rosales, Roca, Víctor Sánchez, Melendo (Granero 67'), Baptistao (Darder 94'), Piatti (Sergio García 81') y Borja Iglesias. Goals: Baptistao (33'). Booked: Hermoso (12') Roca (57', 90'+2'), Rosales (84'), Granero (86'), Baptistao (89'), Sergio García (92'). Sent off: Roca (90'+2').