Real Betis have reached the last 16 of the Europa League with a 3-1 aggregate victory over Rubin Kazan this evening.
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Rubin created the first chance of the game when Chris Mavinga found Ruslan Mukhametshin with a precise cut-back to the edge of the box, but the midfielder's volley flew over the crossbar.
Betis improved as the half progressed and came close to scoring an away goal in the 25th minute when Jordi Figueras's effort hit the post from eight yards out.
The visitors opened the scoring just before the break when Rubin goalkeeper Sergei Ryzhikov parried Nono's speculative shot into the net.
Rubin almost found a response early in the second half, but Gokdeniz Karadeniz's effort was deflected wide after he had been picked out on the edge of the area by Kamil Mullin.
Ruben Castro put the visitors 2-0 ahead on the night with 26 minutes remaining when he lofted the ball over the advancing goalkeeper after being played through on goal.
Betis's defence held firm in the closing stages as they sealed their place in the next round of the competition.
Steven Toplis
