(Reuters) – Second-placed Sevilla beat bitter rivals Real Betis 2-1 on Sunday to shut the hole on LaLiga leaders Real Madrid to 6 factors.
Julen Lopetegui’s workforce dominated the derby from the start and Ivan Rakitic opened the scoring within the twenty fourth minute with a penalty after goalkeeper Claudio Bravo had tripped striker Youssef En Nesyri in a one-on-one problem inside the realm.
Four minutes earlier than the break, Munir El Haddadi, who had come on minutes earlier for the injured Papu Gomez, took benefit of a mistake from the Betis defence to win the ball and put a low cross-shot between Bravo and his left submit.
Sergio Canales scored the comfort aim for Betis in stoppage time with an ideal free kick from the sting of the field that went into the highest left nook.
Sevilla moved as much as 54 factors from 26 video games, eight forward of Betis in third however nonetheless behind Real Madrid, who lead with 60.
After one win of their final 5 league video games, Sevilla wanted victory on Sunday to keep alive their ambitions of successful the title for the primary time since 1946.
They stepped up with a convincing efficiency against in-type Betis, who had been honing in on second place as their native rivals struggled.
“We will battle till the tip,” Munir informed reporters.
“I began on the bench and was having fun with how my workforce mates had been enjoying. Going on and scoring is superior. Winning a Seville derby is unbelievable; will probably be a protracted Sunday night time of celebration for our followers.”
(Reporting by Fernando Kallas; modifying by Clare Fallon)
