Real Sociedad have defeated relegated Real Betis 1-0 in La Liga to tighten their hold on a Europa League place.

The visitors almost got up and running inside seven minutes when Imanol Agirretze got on the end of a cross inside the opposition box, but his strike came back off the post.

Betis were able to hold out until the interval, but just two minutes after the restart Juan Carlos was adjudged to have brought down a Sociedad player in the area with the referee pointing to the spot.

Carlos Vela stepped up to take the penalty and confidently placed the ball down the middle to give his side the lead.

Antoine Griezmann very nearly doubled the visitors' advantage, only for his effort to come back off the post, while Inigo Martinez saw his long-range strike kept out by Antonio Adan.

Ruben Castro came close to pulling one back for Betis with 10 minutes remaining, but it was not to be for the Verdiblancos as Claudio Bravo pulled off a fine save to deny him.