Deportivo La Coruna welcomed Real Betis to the Estadio Municipal de Riazor on Sunday looking for the three points that would have moved them out of the bottom three.
Despite dominating large periods of the half, Deportivo found themselves behind at the interval when Ruben Castro scored after 39 minutes.
Castro had his second for the away side after 55 minutes, but two goals from Riki inside five minutes drew the match level at 2-2.
There was to be late drama, however, as Joel Campbell struck a wonder effort into the top corner to hand the away side all three points.
Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole's minute-by-minute live commentary below.
Afternoon all! Our second La Liga commentary of the day is underway with Deportivo taking on an impressive Betis outfit. Three points for the home side would move them away from the bottom three, but Betis have Champions League football to strive for.
The team news for the match is just filtering through and we will bring you up-to-date in next couple of minutes. Meanwhile, the recent meetings between the two sides have been dominated by Deportivo. Betis have managed just one win in their last five matches against their opponents this afternoon, with that three points coming way back in 2007.
Teams:
Deportivo: Aranzubia; Aythami, Laure, Ayoze, Roderick; Bergantinos, Aguilar, Valeron, Gama; Riki, Pizzi
Betis: Adri; Chica, Amaya, Dorado, Nacho; Benat, Sevilla, Canas; Campbell, Molina, Castro
Deportivo began their league campaign with a 2-0 win over Osasuna before drawing three consecutive matches in the league. But a dreadful period up until the beginning of November left them struggling for points in and around the drop zone.
Four straight defeats followed their impressive start to the season and they did not pick up their second three points until early November with a win over Mallorca. However, they showed good spirit to record a 1-1 draw against Athletic Bilbao last time out.
Betis, meanwhile, began their season with a 2-1 defeat to Rayo Vallecano. However, they then went four matches without defeat to move into the top half of the table. A run of just one win in their next five in all competitions followed before they beat Valencia.
They recent form has been slightly hit and miss with a 5-1 thumping against Sevilla followed by a 1-0 win over Real Madrid last time out. Meanwhile, they secured their progress in the Copa del Rey with a 3-0 win over Real Valladolid on Tuesday.
If Betis are to secure European football this season then you just get the feeling that these are the type of matches they have to win. But you can never tell with Pepe Mel's side. It depends which Betis turns up.
Here we go then. Both sets of players join us on the pitch ahead of kickoff. I am backing an away win this afternoon. Deportivo certainly have an attacking threat, but they are so suspect in defence. A 3-1 away win is my tip.
Handshakes? Check. Flags exchanged? Check. Passionate crowd? Check. Let's get the La Liga action underway. You just get the feeling that the first goal in this match - if there indeed is one - will be crucial. Stay with us for entirety of the evening's events.
Here we go then. Deportivo get the action underway on this mild afternoon/evening in Spain. They pair Pizzi and Riki in attack. Meanwhile, Joel Campbell returns to the Betis team for this match. Let's hope for a game full of goals.
Bright start from Real Betis as Jose Canas wins a free kick outside the Deportivo penalty area. Salva Sevilla whips his cross into the box, but Dani Aranzubia comes a long way to make the clearance. Meanwhile, the home side's goalkeeper is on hand to collect a Jorge Molina pass moments later.
Both sides are just feeling their way into the match at the moment. Betis had enjoyed the better of the early possession, but a decent period for the home side gains them a couple of corners. They cannot take advantage, however, as Nacho and Chica combine to clear the danger.
First sign of Pizzi as the striker attempts to find Riki with a flick on the edge of the box, but Nacho comes across to quell the danger. Betis advance immediately down the other end, but Ruben Castro is ruled offside as he attempts to collect a pass from Benat.
Slightly scrappy period to the match at the moment with both sides still waiting to settle with possession. A couple of counter attacks have threatened to bring the game's first chance, but to no avail. Tight opening nine minutes of football.
It's really smart work from Betis as Benat combines with Castro on the edge of the penalty area. The striker attempts to collect the following pass, but he is tripped on the edge of the box. However, strangely no decision is given. Castro cannot believe it and he has a case.
End-to-end football at the moment with Deportivo threatening through Bruno Gama. But the midfielder is ushered into a wide area and therefore cannot release a shot on target. Gama is found moments later by Valeron, but he slices his effort horribly.
Best spell of the match for Deportivo with Aguilar and Valeron both enjoying possession of the ball. Riki's presence causes problems in the Betis defence, but they just manage to clear the danger. This has been a typical away Betis performance thus far.
CHANCE! Oh my word how has he missed? Best chance by a million miles as Riki finds himself three yards from goal, but somehow Adri makes the save. That simply had to be 1-0. He should not have given the goalkeeper a chance.
Deportivo continue to enjoy the best of the possession, but we have seen it too often from Betis. They appear to be out of the match and suddenly 'bang' they take the lead. But we have seen relatively little from Castro, Molina and Campbell thus far.
Another half-chance comes the way of the home side as Valeron finds the run of Ayoze in a wide area, but the defender can only strike his effort wide of the target from a difficult angle. Meanwhile, Campbell's opening 20 minutes is summed up as he is penalised for handball.
CHANCE! Again the home side come close to taking the lead as Valeron strikes a powerful effort from the edge of the penalty area, but it smashes off the crossbar and behind for a goal kick. It really is all one-way traffic at the moment. But the score remains level.
Another effort comes from distance as Laure strikes towards the Betis goal, but it never had enough power to trouble Adri. Betis have seen more of the ball in the last couple of moments, but they are yet to create a single chance of note.
Betis' opening 26 minutes of football is summed up as a decent passing move is ended with a poor final pass. Moments later Canas does find Castro in the penalty area, but his powerful effort is thumped away by Aranzubia and the score remains level at 0-0.
PENALTY SHOUT: Big penalty claim for the home side as Riki hits the deck in the area under the challenge of Nacho, but the referee waves play on. Meanwhile, Riki is again thwarted with a blocked attempt moments later. It is all Deportivo.
Half-chance for Betis to put a free kick into the penalty area as Campbell is felled in a wide position. However, Benat's set piece is straight at Aranzubia. The midfielder is much better than that. Little over 15 minutes of the opening half remaining.
Not a great deal to report in terms of chances in the past few minutes. Deportivo continue to enjoy the better of the possession, but the Betis defence has remained nice and compact thus far. It might take something special to open the scoring in this match.
After such an enthralling Saturday in La Liga, Sunday has not yet lived up to those standards. A 0-0 draw was played out between Granada and Espanyol earlier. Meanwhile, we are still awaiting the first goal in this one. Still no sign of it as both sides exchange possession.
Decent pressure from the home side forces a couple of corners in quick succession, but once more the quality of the final pass is not up to the desired standard. Both crosses are gobbled up by Adri and the play is resumed with Betis enjoying possession of the football.
GOAL! Deportivo 0-1 Real Betis (Ruben Castro)
Betis take the lead entirely against the run of play as Castro rises highest in the box to thump his header past Aranzubia. That is major blow for the home side five minutes before the interval.
This has happened far too often with Betis this season for it to be a surprise. They have been second best for 40 minutes of this half, but they lead. They just seem to have a habit of finding a goal from somewhere. It is quite incredible to see it happen on a weekly basis.
Suddenly it's all Betis with Benat and Sevilla both wanting possession of the ball. The former finds the run of Campbell and the striker is chopped with by Ayoze outside the penalty area. It really is such a cliché, but goals do change games.
The fourth official indicates that we will play an additional one minute at the end of the first period and it is Deportivo who have possession in the Betis half. But it does appear that they will enter the interval behind.
Deportivo 0-1 Real Betis
So there we have it. The referee brings the first half to an end with Betis leading courtesy of a Ruben Castro strike five minutes before the interval. In truth, it has been a period of few chances, but Deportivo have had the better of it.
Let's take a look at some statistics from the opening half of football. Deportivo have shaded the possession with 56%, while they have had seven attempts to Betis' three. But the only number that matters sees the away side lead at the interval.
As it stands Betis would move into fourth spot in the table. Meanwhile, Deportivo would remain second from bottom. It's another one of those games where Betis haven't played well, but they lead. Meanwhile, Deportivo have been impressive, but they trail. That is football at the highest level.
I would expect to see some changes from the home side in the early stages of the second period. Bodipo is the obvious replacement, but Javi Camunas could also come into the fold. For Betis, they will almost certainly sit deep and attempt to counter. It should be a fascinating second 45 minutes.
Here we go then. Both sets of players join us on the pitch ahead of the second period. No changes for either side at the break. Just a reminder to stay with us this evening as we have two more La Liga live commentaries to bring you following the conclusion of this match.
Betis get the action underway on this mild evening in Spain. Can they hold on and move into fourth spot in the table? Or will the home side respond? We will soon find out. I have a feeling that there could be goals in this half.
Pizzi looks in a bit of trouble here for the home side. The striker was challenged by Jorge Molina and appeared to go over on his ankle. It does not appear that he will be able to continue. We will keep you updated on the latest of that one.
The power of the magic sponge ay?! After a little bit of treatment Pizzi is back on the pitch and chasing the ball around like a young child. It is amazing how it can be so painful one second and fine the next. I am not suggesting anything!
Back to the football. Decent period for Betis as they force a couple of corners on the right, but Aranzubia remains a powerful presence in the air and collects the danger on each occasion. Deportivo advance down the other end with Riki, but his cross is cut out by Chica.
Again it's bright work from the home side as Valeron combines with Roderick in a wide area, but the midfielder just cannot find room for the cross and the danger is cleared. No real tempo to the match at the moment with both sides slightly sloppy in possession.
GOAL! Deportivo 0-2 Real Betis (Ruben Castro)
Betis have their second of the evening as Castro turns a Canas cross into the back of the net from close range. What a deadly finish. Is that the end of this one?
Again it has happened. Betis are not playing particularly well in this match, but they find something and suddenly they are 2-0 ahead. Can Deportivo recover? They need something quickly.
GOAL! Deportivo 1-2 Real Betis (Riki)
Yes they can recover! Deportivo have one back within moments as Riki meets a Gama cross to score from close range. Well that has certainly changed the feel of this match.
Where has this flurry of goals come from? It has not been a particularly good game up until now. But suddenly we have a real match on our hands. The pressure is now coming from Betis.
Half-chance for the home side as Valeron dances past a flurry of Betis defenders before being fouled. The free kick is whipped into the box by Gama, but the danger is cleared. For the moment anyway.
GOAL! Deportivo 2-2 Real Betis (Riki)
Deportivo are level! What a turn of events! It's Riki once more who turns home from inside the penalty area. Now the home side look right up for it.
We still have 30 minutes of football remaining and Deportivo are the side in control of this match. Gama and Riki are carrying the fight, but Pizzi is a bit of a passenger at the moment and does appear to be carrying an injury.
First change of the match for the away side as Sevilla is replaced by Alvaro Vadillo. Betis just need to settle with a period of possession. But they simply cannot do that with Deportivo in their faces at every opportunity. They are showing such fight here.
Again it's bright work from the home side as Gama advances down the left before whipping a high cross into the penalty area, but Chica is on hand to clear the danger. Betis attempt to launch an attack of their own, but Campbell loses possession.
End-to-end football at the moment as Campbell finds Castro in the penalty area, but his effort is just wide of the far post. It really is an incredible game of football at the moment. Both sides are attacking and it is leaving gaps to exploit.
Betis make their second change of the match as Canas is replaced by Ruben Perez. Little over 20 minutes of football remaining and the score remains level at 2-2. A point would move the home side out of the relegation zone.
Penalty appeal for the away side as Benat is felled in the area, but the referee waves play on. Meanwhile, Pizzi is denied by Adri down the other end moments later. It is all happening here. The home side are preparing another change.
The change is indeed made with Roderick being replaced by Rodolfo Bodipo. They are really going for the jugular here. You just get the feeling that this match is there for the taking should either side force the issue. Little over 15 minutes remaining.
CHANCE! Big opportunity for the away side as Dorado rises highest in the penalty area, but he can only head his effort over the crossbar from close range. This really is anyone's match at the moment. Attack after attack after attack from both sides.
GOAL! Deportivo 2-3 Real Betis (Campbell)
Oh my word. That is a goal of the highest order as Campbell collects possession outside the penalty area before driving his effort into the top corner. What a strike.
Deportivo find themselves behind once more. Have they got enough to come back for a third time? Little over 10 minutes of football remaining and they have a free kick outside the penalty area. You can just sense that there are more goals in this match.
Betis just cannot keep possession at the moment and it is inviting the home side onto them. Gama and Riki remain the danger men for Deportivo. Meanwhile, they make another change as Valeron is replaced by Javier Camunas.
The frustration is just building for the home side as Betis continue to break up the flow with a series of cheap fouls in their own half. It is providing Deportivo with the opportunity to put service into the penalty area, but the final ball continues to miss its target.
Little over five minutes of normal time remaining and Deportivo have a free kick in their own penalty area as Castro bundles into the back of Laure. Not that the striker will mind too much as it wastes valuable time.
CHANCE! Fine opportunity for the away side to secure the points as Castro finds Campbell in the penalty area, but the on-loan Arsenal striker was just denied by a lunging challenge from Laure. What a wonderful piece of defending.
Possession football from Betis as we enter the final couple of minutes. In truth Deportivo look like a beaten side as they give away another corner. Meanwhile, the away side make their final change as Nosa replaces Campbell.
Meanwhile, the fourth official indicates that we will play an additional four minutes of football. What have the home side got left?
The pressure remains from the home side as they pass and probe around the Betis box, but their defence remains strong as they continue to clear the danger. We are entering last chance saloon for Deportivo.
The look on Riki's face says it all as he fires over the crossbar from outside the box. Betis have possession with little under 30 seconds of football to play. This one is just about over.
Deportivo 2-3 Real Betis
So there we have it. Betis move into fourth spot in La Liga with a 3-2 win over Deportivo, who remain in the bottom three. Thanks for joining Sports Mole for the action and stay with us for more La Liga action.
Written by
Matt Law
Matt Law
