Betis up to fourth

Real Betis moved up to fourth in the Primera Division as two headers gave them a 2-0 victory over Real Sociedad.

Real Betis moved up to fourth in the Primera Division as two headers gave them a 2-0 victory over Real Sociedad on Saturday night. The hosts bounced back from consecutive defeats as they picked up their fourth win of the campaign thanks to a first-half goal from Paulao and an effort from Ruben Castro in the second. The hosts had goalkeeper Adrian to thank as well, though, for a string of impressive saves either side of half-time which kept his side in front. They finished the game with 10 men following the 88th-minute sending-off of defender Mario, but it was too late to impact on the game. The start of the match was delayed for 17 minutes before of a power failure at the Benito Villamarin stadium, but when the action did get under way Betis were the first to threaten, with Juan Carlos heading weakly over the bar from Benat's right-wing free-kick. At the other end Antoine Griezmann fired a left-footed volley wide of the near post from the left of the area. It was the hosts who were having the better of the opening exchanges, though, and Ruben Castro was denied by a save from Enaut Zubikarai before they took the lead. Juan Carlos' outswinging corner from the left was met by Paulao, who planted a header into the bottom left corner from six yards. The Brazilian centre-back almost added another five minutes later, this time meeting a Benat corner, but this attempt was hacked clear. The hosts had Adrian to thank for keeping them ahead at the break, though, as he brilliantly parried Carlos Vela's left-footed shot and, on the stroke of half-time, superbly tipped David Zurutuza's drilled effort over the bar. Ruben Castro went agonisingly close to doubling his side's lead two minutes after the restart, but his fierce shot crashed back off the bar. At the other end, Vela's long-range effort was parried by the alert Adrian and the Mexican sent another effort, this time from inside the area, wide. Sociedad were enjoying a period of concerted pressure and a Adrian did well again to tip a Zurutuza free-kick round a post. The Betis goalkeeper then did brilliantly to parry yet another Vela strike from the left side of the area. The hosts eased the pressure on their own goal briefly around the hour mark, with Alejandro Pozuelo bringing a smart save out of Zubikarai from 20 yards, before Benat mis-hit an effort wide. And they sealed the points in the 81st minute as Benat's free-kick was headed low into the net by Ruben Castro. There was time for Mario to see red for a second yellow for a foul on Xabi Prieto, but his side were already home and dry.