El Gran Derbi between Andalucian rivals Real Betis and Sevilla is one La Liga’s fiercest rivalries and the first edition of 2022/23 lived up to expectation.
Three red cards, and a goal apiece, secured a draw at the Estadio Benito Villamarin, on a controversial night in Seville.
Real Betis dominated the opening stages, with Borja Iglesias powering a header against the post, before the tie flipped on its head before the break.
Gonzalo Montiel was dismissed for a late lunge at Alex Moreno, before Jesus Navas deflected Nemanja Gudelj’s clearance into his own net, and the French international Nabil Fekir was sent off, in a frantic nine minutes of added time.
Tensions spilling over in El Gran Derbi! 😡
A high tackle from Montiel leads to a red card after VAR review and Sevilla are down to 10 men 🟥 pic.twitter.com/LCXTgQnsZ5
— Viaplay Sports UK (@ViaplaySportsUK) November 6, 2022
And it's getting worse for Sevilla! 😬
A truly bizarre own goal as the ball ricochets off Jesus Navas and Bono fails to get a strong hand on it on its way in for the Betis opener 🌴 pic.twitter.com/TfQSuZDBnz
— Viaplay Sports UK (@ViaplaySportsUK) November 6, 2022
And now Fekir's flailing arm gets him sent off! 😱
Betis join Sevilla in being down to 10 men before half time 🟥 pic.twitter.com/D0grzEXbKV
— Viaplay Sports UK (@ViaplaySportsUK) November 6, 2022
Iglesias joined Monteil and Fekir as the third player to be sent off, after the restart, after his booking was upgraded to a red card, after a VAR check.
You get a red card, and you get a red card, and you get a red card! 🟥
Betis might lead but a sending off for Borja Iglesias means they're down to 9 men against Sevilla's 10 in El Gran Derbi 🤯 pic.twitter.com/YBJUri89n7
— Viaplay Sports UK (@ViaplaySportsUK) November 6, 2022
With a player advantage, Sevilla seized their chance to drive for an equaliser, as Gudelj cannoned home a leveller, before the Serbian was incredibly denied a winner in the dying seconds.
OH MY WORD! 😱😱
Nemanja Gudelj brings Sevilla level with a ROCKET! 🚀 pic.twitter.com/y85tnB73FV
— Viaplay Sports UK (@ViaplaySportsUK) November 6, 2022
Real Betis head to Valencia in midweek La Liga action with Sevilla hosting Real Sociedad.
Images via Getty Images
