• Sevilla's Fernando celebrates scoring their second goal against Real Betis at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium on Thursday, June 12. Seville won the match 2-0 as La Liga returned to action for the first time since the coronavirus lockdown. Reuters
    Sevilla's Fernando celebrates scoring their second goal against Real Betis at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium on Thursday, June 12. Seville won the match 2-0 as La Liga returned to action for the first time since the coronavirus lockdown. Reuters
  • Real Betis players remonstrate with referee Antonio Lahoz after he awarded a penalty to Sevilla. Reuters
    Real Betis players remonstrate with referee Antonio Lahoz after he awarded a penalty to Sevilla. Reuters
  • Sevilla's Lucas Ocampos opens the scoring from the penalty spot. Reuters
    Sevilla's Lucas Ocampos opens the scoring from the penalty spot. Reuters
  • Real Betis' substitute players and technical staff sticking to social distance protocols in the stands. EPA
    Real Betis' substitute players and technical staff sticking to social distance protocols in the stands. EPA
  • Sevilla forward Lucas Ocampos celebrates after scoring. EPA
    Sevilla forward Lucas Ocampos celebrates after scoring. EPA
  • Sevilla players celebrate after Ocampos' goal against Real Betis. EPA
    Sevilla players celebrate after Ocampos' goal against Real Betis. EPA
  • Sevilla's Fernando scores their second goal. Reuters
    Sevilla's Fernando scores their second goal. Reuters
  • Sevilla and Real Betis' players in action in front of empty stands at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium. EPA
    Sevilla and Real Betis' players in action in front of empty stands at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium. EPA
  • Sevilla's Oliver Torres shields the ball from Cristian Tello of Real Betis. AP
    Sevilla's Oliver Torres shields the ball from Cristian Tello of Real Betis. AP
  • Real Betis' Cristian Tello battles for the ball with Jules Kounde of Sevilla. Reuters
    Real Betis' Cristian Tello battles for the ball with Jules Kounde of Sevilla. Reuters
  • A stadium worker wearing a face mask sits in the empty stands. AFP
    A stadium worker wearing a face mask sits in the empty stands. AFP
  • Real Betis' Alex Moreno shoots at goal. Reuters
    Real Betis' Alex Moreno shoots at goal. Reuters
  • Sevilla players celebrate after the match. AP
    Sevilla players celebrate after the match. AP
  • Players hold a minute of silence for coronavirus victims before the match. AFP
    Players hold a minute of silence for coronavirus victims before the match. AFP
  • Sevilla players celebrate after the match. Reuters
    Sevilla players celebrate after the match. Reuters

Football

In pictures: La Liga is back as Seville beat Real Betis

Spanish top-flight returns to action after a three-month gap due to coronavirus pandemic

Gareth Cox

June 12, 2020

  • English
  • Arabic

Sevilla beat local rivals Real Betis 2-0 on Thursday as La Liga returned after three months away, becoming the second of Europe's five major leagues to resume following the coronavirus pandemic.

After the Bundesliga in Germany restarted on May 16, La Liga opened its doors again to players but not supporters at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium, where the usually vibrant Seville derby was played in front of empty stands.

The game was the first in Spain's top flight since March 10 but 93 days later another professional fixture has been completed without incident, offering further encouragement to the Premier League in England and Serie A in Italy. Both are set to return next week.

Lucas Ocampos gave Sevilla the lead from a 56th-minute penalty and Fernando then added the second goal for the home side, who are third in the table.

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