A second-half goal from Alvaro Vadillo was enough to give Real Betis a 1-0 victory over Vitoria de Guimaraes.
The opening 45 minutes featured little action in front of goal, but five minutes after the break, Vadillo got in behind the Vitoria defence before placing the ball into the bottom corner.
The Portuguese outfit pushed for an equaliser in the final 15 minutes but they couldn't find a way past Stephan Andersen.
Read below to see how the action unfolded in Spain.
Hello, and welcome to Sports Mole's coverage of the Europa League match between Real Betis and Vitoria de Guimaraes.
When the draw was made in August, I suspect that Vitoria de Guimaraes would have been content to still be in contention at the top of Group I, but after two fixtures, they are top!
Tonight represents a huge opportunity for the Portuguese side to move five points clear of opponents Real Betis, which will effectively leave them a win away from the knockout stages.
Betis have started their campaign with two draws, but while they have failed to register a win, they are aware that victory will see them overtake Vitoria, so everything is to play for this evening!
REAL BETIS XI: Andersen, Juanfran, Perquis, Amaya, Didac, Lolo, Nosa, Verdú, Vadillo, Chuli, Molina
VITORIA XI: Douglas, Kanu, Paulo, Ba, Addy, Olympus, Andre Santos, Marco Matias, Malonga, Tiago Rodrigues, Fernando Russi
PREDICTION! Given their respective positions in the group, it would seem likely that we are in for a tight battle this evening. However, despite not performing in La Liga, I am predicting that Betis will rise to the occasion tonight and edge out the Portuguese outfit.
We are less than five minutes away from kickoff. I will try to keep you informed of developments in the game between Lyon and Rijeka too.
The two teams are lined up while the Europa League theme music plays out into the stadium. There looks to be a decent crowd in the stadium, but the main stand is only half full.
Betis get us underway.
CHANCE! Vitoria should be ahead! They work the ball down the right-hand side and it finds Chris Malonga at the back post, but he volleys over from about eight yards.
SHOT! It has been a lively start from both teams. After defending a corner, Betis broke clear but after the ball arrived at the feet of Nosa Igiebor, he sliced his shot harmlessly wide.
There is a frenetic tempo to the match, but neither side are managing to hold onto the ball for a prolonged period of time. Betis earn a corner but it comes to nothing.
Despite coming into this fixture with the advantage in the group, Vitoria are playing with just the one man in attack. You would have thought that they might have arrived in Spain with a bit more attacking purpose. It has turned into a keep-ball session for Betis at the moment.
After all that possession, Betis finally got the ball into the penalty area but two players went for the same ball and it ricocheted out for a goal kick. I don't think that there are going to many goals in this one...
There's some good news if you are a Spurs fan. They have taken the lead in Moldova against Sheriff thanks to a Jan Vertonghen goal.
Vitoria win a corner from the left-hand side but the delivery from Andre Santos (no...not that one) evades everyone and goes out for a goal kick.
There are already divots appearing on the pitch. That isn't a good sign when there are still 70 minutes remaining! A particular divot on the right flank brings a halt to Juanfran's quick burst down the wing and he miscued his cross out for a goal kick.
Vitoria defender Abdoulaye Ba is under pressure to defend a ball hit over the top, but despite seemingly falling over, he is handed a free kick, much to the displeasure of the home fans.
BOOKING! The first booking of the game has been handed to Real Betis striker Jorge Molina after he hauled back Ba. It all looked something over nothing to me, but Ba reacted as though he have been scythed down. He hadn't.
We have reached the half-hour mark in Spain, and apart from the opening 60 seconds, nothing has happened, and I'm not exaggerating. There's very little ambition from either side.
BOOKING! We have action, but it didn't occur in either penalty area. Vitoria's Andre Santos has been cautioned for a high boot.
SHOT! That's a bit better from Betis who work the ball down the right. The delivery evaded the head of Molina, but it found Igiebor, but his scissor-kick went skywards from 12 yards. At least it is a step in the right direction.
SAVE! What a save from Douglas! Molina absolutely leathered the ball along the ground from 18 yards, but the Vitoria stopper has produced a superb block down to his right. Dare I say it, but Betis are building a head of steam...
Surely that must be a penalty for Vitoria! Malonga got in behind the full-back but as he entered the penalty area, Juanfran leaned all over the attacker. However, the referee remained unmoved! The Portuguese outfit will feel really hard done by.
There will be one minute of added-on time.
HALF TIME: Real Betis 0-0 Vitoria de Guimaraes
The half-time whistle has gone at the Benito Villamarin, and it's no surprise that we are still goalless. There has hardly been a shot on goal throughout the first half, with Jorge Molina seeing the only shot on target well parried away by Douglas. It can only get better...
It doesn't appear as though the supporters are having much luck in terms of goalmouth action in France either, where the score is still 0-0 between Lyon and Rijeka.
Don't forget that after this game, there will be a second batch of Europa League fixtures getting underway, including matches involving Swansea City and Wigan Athletic. You can catch all of the action with Sports Mole from 8pm.
The two teams are back out on the pitch. Keep your fingers crossed for a few shots this half!
We are back underway.
We are back into a similar pattern to that of the first half, but I guess it is only early. Betis have attempted the same type of ball over the right-back on several occasions, but they can't seem to find the desired delivery.
GOAL! Real Betis 1-0 Vitoria de Guimaraes (Vadillo)
I promise you that this isn't a joke - Betis have the lead, and it was a super goal too. The ball was dinked into the path of Alvaro Vadillo, who burst into the penalty area and found the far corner with a delicate flick past Douglas.
Hopefully that goal will see Vitoria change their strategy. It has to really, or else they could see themselves drop from first to third in the group.
All of a sudden, there is a bit of momentum about Betis, and they come close to adding a second through Chuli, but his header is straight at Douglas.
BOOKING! Another man goes into the book for Vitoria. Midfielder Tiago Rodrigues appeared to win the ball in the centre of midfield, but the referee deemed it to be a challenge from behind. Bit harsh, maybe.
The ball just isn't falling Vitoria's way at the moment. They are attempting to be a little bit more creative with the ball, but the kind of pass they are attempting only usually comes off one time in 10.
BOOKING! The referee isn't hesitating to get his cards out now! Vadillo, who gave Betis the lead, has been booked for a high boot. There has been quite a few of those in this match!
Lyon have taken the lead in the other match in this group, so if the two scores remain the same, Vitoria are going to find themselves overtaken by both the French side and Real Betis.
SUBSTITUTION! Betis has made a change. bringing off Molina for Cedric Mabwati. There's less than 20 minutes to go now in Seville.
Vitoria win a free kick on the left-hand side, around 40 yards from goal. However, the cross is terrible from Tiago Rodrigues and it is cleared.
MISS! What a miss! Vitoria should be level, but Marco Matias has missed a sitter. He managed to take the ball around the goalkeeper, but he used his wrong foot when attempting to tap into an empty net, and the ball went into the side-netting.
CHANCE! Where has this come from? Vitoria have transformed into Brazil. Well, not quite, but they should have scored a couple of times in the past five minutes. First of all, Paulo Oliveira saw his header superbly tipped behind by Andersen, before the Danish goalkeeper had to be on hand again to make a remarkable block from Ba.
CHANCE! Betis nearly wrap up the points, but Douglas, who has done nothing wrong in this game, tips the ball wide after Mabwati's effort looked to be heading for the bottom corner.
Well this is a little better, isn't it?
There's just four minutes for Vitoria to earna share of the spoils. They are enjoying their best spell of the game, but they are leaving gaps at the back.
BOOKING! Douglas has gone into the book for barging over the attacker when retrieving the ball. Chuli has also received a yellow card, but I have no idea what for.
BOOKING! Vitoria win a free kick on the edge of the penalty area after a Vila handball. What can they do from here?
The answer to that last question is nothing. The ball went into the box, but no-one was at the back post.
There will be three minutes of added-on time.
FULL TIME: Real Betis 1-0 Vitoria de Guimaraes
It's all over in Spain, and Real Betis have beaten Vitoria de Guimaraes to condemn the Portuguese side to third position in the group, after Lyon won by the same scoreline in France.
It's all over in Spain, and Real Betis have beaten Vitoria de Guimaraes to condemn the Portuguese side to third position in the group, after Lyon won by the same scoreline in France.
That is all from Sports Mole for this match but please stick around - we have more from the Europa League in just a few minutes. Goodbye for now.
Written by
Darren Plant
Darren Plant
