Close to a comeback

Real Sociedad dug deep into pride and determination to rescue a point from a match that had looked beyond them. Betis had been the more clinical side for much of the game, but the txuri urdin never gave up and ultimately came away with a point that, with a little more finishing, could easily have been three.

The match began in chaotic fashion. Antony had a one-on-one for Betis that, with everything in his favour, he fired wide of Remiro. The very next chance fell at the other end in almost identical fashion, Óskarsson tried to square for Barrene but the pass fell short. Chances kept coming, and the Icelandic striker had two more opportunities, sending a forced right-footed effort wide before Valles saved his header from a Sergio cross. The game had no rhythm, just end-to-end action. The post denied Sergio what would have been the opening goal, and shortly after, Antony made the most of a good move to put Betis ahead before the break.

At the start of the second half, on the visitors' very first attack, Abde scored a fine goal to seemingly hand Pellegrini's side the victory. Real Sociedad responded with pride and scored twice, only for both goals to be ruled out for wafer-thin offside calls. Undeterred, Matarazzo's men kept pressing, and after a Sergio cross from the left, Óskarsson headed home to pull one back and keep the dream of a point alive. An Oyarzabal left-footer and several balls into the box had the crowd on edge, and deep into added time a handball in the Betis area allowed Oyarzabal to level at 2-2 from the spot. There were even two more clear chances to win it, Marín headed narrowly wide and Oyarzabal fired just past the post.

A point earned through sheer grit, and one that leaves a good feeling despite the fact that all three were within reach. The game had looked lost, and the point deserves credit. With European football already secured through the Copa del Rey, three matches remain to end the season on the best possible note.

Match sheet:

Real Sociedad: Remiro, Aritz (Carrera, min.77), Martín, Ćaleta-Car, Sergio Gómez, Gorrotxa, Soler (Sučić, min.53), Barrene, Take (Marín, min.53), Oyarzabal (cap) and Óskarsson. 

Real Betis: Valles, Ruibal (cap), Llorente, Gómez, Rodríguez (Bellerín, min.70), Altimira (Amrabat, min.70), Roca, Fornals (Isco, min.70), Antony (Riquelme, min.59), Abde and Cucho (Deossa, min.77).

Goals: 0-1: Antony, min.39. 0-2: Abde, min.47. 1-2: Óskarsson, min.80. 2-2: Oyarzabal (pen), min.91.

Referee: Alejandro Muñiz. Booked Barrene and Óskarsson for Real Sociedad and Llorente for Real Betis. He sent off the visiting player Ruibal for a second yellow card in the 94th minute.

Attendance: 28,617 spectators.