Ruben Castro and Manucho split the goals and the points

Embarba denied by bar at beginning
Rayo Vallecano went for it early on and Adri Embarba had the first attempt. Only the crossbar kept out what would have been the opening goal of the night with less than 10 minutes on the clock. After this warning shot from the visitors, however, it would be Real Betis who took charge.

Ruben Castro at the double
Two headers from Betis's top scorer had the home fans in raptures. The first was a towering finish, the second the definition of a finishing touch. After Jorge Molina flicked on a corner, the striker from the Canary Islands was there to nod the ball over the line from a couple of yards out. This brace ensured the hosts went into the break 2-0 up.

Musonda, a box of tricks
When Charly Musonda has fun, so too do the Benito Villamarin faithful. The Belgian produced everything from back-heels to step-overs in the tightest of spaces to sashay past opposition players and get the supporters off their seats in a first period in which everything went the home side's way.

Manucho responds in kind
The second half had barely got going when Roberto Trashorras lifted his head up and picked out Manucho, who rose high into the air to power a header into the net and make it 2-1. An equaliser came just three minutes later, the Angolan showing all his athleticism to produce an acrobatic volley. A mere five minutes after the restart and it was honours even at the Villamarin.

Woodwork prevents Ceballos winner
Rayo duly set out to turn one point into three and could have done so, with Manucho spurning the opportunity to seal his hat-trick. Betis also had their chances in a final 15 minutes in which there could well have been more changes to the scoreline. Dani Ceballos very nearly snatched a winner in stoppage time when, with his side pouring forward, he rattled the crossbar with a fine effort. Ultimately, however, the two teams would share the spoils courtesy of a pair of braces in a proverbial game of two halves.