Honours even in rip-roaring Balaidos bout

Adan displays his reflexes

Real Betis goalkeeper Antonio Adan was one of the standout performers in the first half. He was called into action to thwart RC Celta, who had made a superb start, by reacting magnificently to keep out John Guidetti's flicked attempt. This wasn't the only occasion on which the visiting shotstopper showed cat-like reflexes, as his save from a Nolito header was equally impressive.

N'Diaye draws first blood

Despite Celta's early initiative, it was Betis who got their noses in front at Balaidos. There were 24 minutes on the clock when Alfred N'Diaye deftly touched home for just his second ever Liga BBVA goal. It was created by Martin Montoya, who showed persistence and poise in equal measure to reach the byline and lay the ball on a plate for the Senegalese midfielder.

Joaquin denied by the post

The Verdiblancos came within a hair's breadth of going into the interval with a two-goal advantage. Joaquin connected cleanly with a powerful right-footed drive that struck the woodwork and rebounded out rather than nestling in the bottom corner, where it had appeared bound for.

Betis inches away from a second again

The side from Seville remained in the ascendancy after the half-time break and had another extremely good chance to double their lead in the 47th minute. This time it was Ruben Castro who came close, racing away from the Celta defence and dinking a finish over the advancing Ruben Blanco, only for the ball to drift just wide of the post.

Celta get their reward

For all Betis's chances, Celta never gave up and battled for the spoils, or at least a share of them, in front of their fans. Their determination paid off in the 78th minute, when Pablo Hernandez lashed home a strike that skidded past Adan at his near post.