🇪🇸 Late drama sees Sevilla hold Real Betis in El Gran Derbi | OneFootball

Sevilla and Real Betis went head-to-head on Sunday as El Gran Derbi featured late drama in a 1-1 draw.

Scorers: Rakitić 79′; Pérez 72′

As one of the liveliest derbies in Spain, this clash was previewed to be an electric encounter at the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán, but fans were made to wait for the drama.

Sevilla dominated possession of the ball but struggled to create anything worthwhile in front of goal, with just one attempt on target after almost 80 minutes to Real Betis’ five.

Questions might be asked of the hosts’ inability to threaten the visitors who were without their first or second-choice goalkeeper, seeing Fran Vieites forced to start.

Plenty of eyes were on Isco as he pulled the strings for the visitors (this time wearing opposite colours) but it was Ayoze Pérez who proved to be the game changer.

After his earlier effort hit the woodwork, the 30-year-old beat a flat-footed Boubakary Soumaré to the ball and stabbed home the opener.

Yet the lead wouldn’t last for long as Ivan Rakitić scored a screamer into the top left corner from about 25 yards after seeing Vieites slightly favouring the other side.

The equaliser prevented Real Betis from picking up their first derby win away from home in five years.

Looking at the table, the one point is massive for 13th-place Sevilla as their unbeaten run stays alive. Real Betis, meanwhile, sit seventh and are four points off the top four.