Early Ruben Castro strike earns Real Betis win

Ruben Castro scored early in the first half to hand Real Betis a 1-0 win over Levante in La Liga this evening.

The visitors broke the deadlock less than five minutes into the tie as Joaquin played the ball forward to Ruben Castro, setting the striker up for a low strike into the bottom right corner.

Levante could have been back on level terms just five minutes later though as Verza struck the post with a powerful finish, while Deyverson was also denied by the woodwork while trying to tap in from the rebound.

Castro thought that he was through for a second later in the first half after controlling a high ball forward, but his shot was kept out by Ruben.

The Levante keeper was tested again before the interval as Joaquin made another run forward, this time keeping the ball himself, but his sliced finish was tipped behind by Ruben.

The home side was on the attack at the start of the second half as they pressed for an equaliser, but Deyverson was denied by the woodwork for a second time as his half-volley crashed against the crossbar.

Levante continued to look the more likely in the second half as Marti Roger latched on to a ball forward from David Navarro, but Antonio Adan made a diving save to keep Betis in front.

The referee had to step in late on as Heiko Westermann picked up his second booking of the game, resulting in him being sent off, while Levante substitute Juanfran was also shown a red card, despite not being on the pitch, for something he said from the bench.

Betis tried to put the win beyond doubt with just over five minutes remaining as Rafael van der Vaart met a cross from the right on the edge of the box, but his finish lacked the power needed to beat Ruben.

Victor Camarasa tried to rescue a point late on for the home side, but his shot from the edge of the box ended up going wide of the target.

The result moves Betis up to ninth in the table, while Levante remain in the relegation zone.