Tense Seville derby draws a blank

Gameiro denied

With the confidence gleaned from a run of five wins and a draw in all competitions, Sevilla carved the first opening in a typically turbo-charged Seville derby at the Benito Villamarin.

50.073 espectadores en el Benito Villamarín. ¡Gracias a todos por venir! Patrocinado por @WikoES #ElDerbiEnVerde pic.twitter.com/0ntIe6LGIh

— Real Betis Balompié (@RealBetis) December 19, 2015

 

Midfielder Ever Banega played Kevin Gameiro through into the area after 11 minutes but the Frenchman was denied in a one-on-one with Betis keeper Antonio Adan.

Sparks flying

Betis were without a win in their last three games in all competitions but took the game to Sevilla and sparks were soon flying. Tensions rose on and off the pitch and there was little time or space for players on either side.

Sevilla’s Ukrainian midfielder Yevhen Konoplyanka broke into the area just before halftime but took too long to pull the trigger and Alfred N’Diaye recovered to block his shot.

Adan saves again

The second half was barely a minute old when Sevilla spurned another chance. Vitolo played Gameiro into the area but once again former Real Madrid keeper Adan was quick off his line to block the shot.

The game ran out of steam as the second half progressed with a lot of interruptions. The last chance of the game fell to Sevilla again when Jose Antonio Reyes curled a freekick into the side-netting.  

#RBBvSFC | FINAL | @RealBetis 0-0 @SevillaFC pic.twitter.com/quHGydrZrF

— LaLiga (@LaLiga) December 19, 2015