ELECTRIC atmosphere, five goals and plenty of talking points!
The El Gran Derbi had it all here on Saturday night.
Not that anything less was expected from this grudge match between city rivals, Sevilla and Real Betis.
For the last 104 years, the Seville derby had been a source of great pride and a fascinating rivalry.
But this encounter was made all the more important by the fact that the two teams are chasing European football qualification.
Added to this was also the fact Betis came into the match with tails up from their victory in the first round fixture.
The tension in the lead up to the weekend clash reached boiling point when Munir El Haddadi made the breakthrough in the 26th minute, heading home the opener.
As the striker wheeled away celebrating his goal, the crowd broke out in the traditional song “Sevilla, Sevilla, Sevilla” ditty.
The blurring speakers that led the chorus were soon drowned out by the defeaning cacophony of noise.
The mood was reflected in the city centre where more fans filled the streets to watch the game in the pubs, sides of buildings and just about everywhere on a terrific night.
About 700 Betis fans, who crammed into the corner stand, soon erupted as Giovani Lo Celso banged in the equaliser for the visitors shortly after halftime.
But their joy was short-lived as Pablo Sarabia regained the lead with Sevilla’s second in the 59th minute, before Franco Vázquez added the third Franco Vázquez four minutes later.
The wind was blown out of Betis’ sails.
Yet there was a nail-biting finish to the derby as Cristian Tello thundered Betis’ second from a free-kick.
The pendulum swung the visitors way, with Sevilla picking as many as six yellow cards trying to defend.
But they held out for an incredible win.
What a derby!
