Real Betis 3-1 Real Sociedad: Hernández and Fornals strike as Betis go fourth | OneFootball

Real Betis secured an impressive victory at La Cartuja, overcoming Real Sociedad 3-1 in front of nearly 60,000 supporters.

Cucho Hernández opened the scoring early before Brais Méndez equalised with a fine finish.

However, the second half turned decisively in Betis’ favour, as Álex Remiro’s own goal restored the lead before Pablo Fornals added a third to settle the contest. The result lifts Betis into the top four in LaLiga, while Sociedad’s inconsistent start under Sergio Francisco continues.

As it happened

Betis started brightly and broke the deadlock after just seven minutes. Giovani Lo Celso threaded a pass through the Sociedad defence, and Hernández finished confidently into the top corner.

The visitors responded quickly. Ander Barrenetxea’s neat play down the right freed Méndez, who fired left-footed into the top corner to level at 1-1 on 13 minutes. Sociedad gained confidence and created chances through Mikel Oyarzabal and Pablo Marín, but Pau López was equal to their efforts.

The game remained finely balanced into the second half until a slice of misfortune struck the visitors. Just four minutes after the restart, Abde Ezzalzouli’s cross caused panic in the box and Remiro turned the ball into his own net to restore Betis’ advantage.

Manuel Pellegrini’s side seized control thereafter. Abde went close with a powerful strike against the post before the decisive third arrived on 69 minutes. Fornals combined well down the right and swept home from close range after Hector Bellerín’s clever assist. Sociedad pushed in the final stages through substitutes Gonçalo Guedes and Arsen Zakharyan, but Pau López denied them with crucial saves.

The result was greeted with huge celebrations from the home crowd, as Betis claimed a deserved three points.

The lineups

RBE: Pau López; Bellerín, Llorente, Natan, Junior Firpo; Amrabat, Fornals, Lo Celso; Antony, Hernández, Ezzalzouli

RSO: Remiro; Aramburu, Zubeldia, Caleta-Car, Gómez; Gorrotxategi, Marín, Méndez, Kubo, Barrenetxea, ; Oyarzabal