Hard work, character and personality. Real Betis Balompié displayed all those elements along with some moments of great football to beat Villarreal CF tonight. The team took the lead through Lo Celso, but Funes Mori levelled up just two minutes later. In the second half, the Argentinian midfielder scored his second. In the last minute, Villarreal were awarded a penalty, but Pau López saved it.

Two minutes into the game and Betis had the first occasion. Emerson delivered a cross that took a deflection in a defender and hit the crossbar. Betis had come on strong and displaying a high pressing.

The next one was again for the Green and Whites, when Canales delivered a good long pass towards Tello but Asenjo came out well and blocked his effort. It was a preamble to what was to come. Guardado produced a sensational pass and Lo Celso lobbed the ball over the keeper to break the deadlock. However, the joy did not last long, as Funes Mori headed in a corner kick just two minutes later.

In spite of this setback, Betis continued handling the ball well, trying to attack and score the second. Canales, first, and Lo Celso a few minutes later, did not score by inches. Villarreal replied through Pedraza, but the full back missed the target from short range.

Pau López denied Cazorla five minutes before the end of the first half with a great save to the midfielder's free-kick.

One minute into the second half and Emerson had a good chance that Asenjo saved. Three minutes later, Jesé looked for the top left corner, but the ball went just wide.

Tello and Canales had two consecutive occasions, but none of them found the net. Then, Jesé again missed by millimetres. Betis had Villarreal now under siege, attacking relentlessly. In this way, after some rebounds inside the box, Lo Celso score his second, this time with a right-footed curled effort to the bottom corner.

The match got the final 15 minutes with a lot of tension on the pitch. Villarreal wanted to push forward while Betis looked to lower the pace the game and defend through the possession. The best one at this point was for Joaquín after a good pass from Carvalho, but the captain could not beat the keeper.

It seemed that luck was not on Betis side when the referee whistled for penalty one minute before the end. Cazorla took the ball and shot, but Pau López guessed right and saved the ball. In the injury time, Tello almost scored after a good counterattack, but Cazorla cleared over the line.

Real Betis Balompié: Pau López, Emerson, Mandi, Bartra, Feddal, Tello, Carvalho, Guardado, Canales (Joaquín 66'), Lo Celso (Junior 72'), Jesé (Javi García 79'). Goals: Lo Celso (11', 63'). Booked: Jesé (45'), Carvalho (94'), Tello (95').

Villarreal CF: Asenjo, Mario Gaspar, Funes Mori, Víctor Ruiz, Bonera (Cáseres 28'), Pedraza, Iborra, Morlanes (Gerard Moreno 72'), Cazorla, Chukweze (Bacca 64'), Ekambi. Goals: Funes Mori (13'). Booked: Chukwueze (19'), Ruiz (34'), Cáseres (52'), Gaspar (92').

Referee: Xavier Estrada Fernández.