Sevilla vs Real Betis: 5 Classic Clashes in El Gran Derbi

Sevilla and Real Betis may not be the biggest names in Spanish football, but they do provide the most hard-fought and passionate derby in the country. El Gran Derbi is played out under the beating Seville sun, as the two rivals battle it out to be the pride of the city, and to earn the short-term bragging rights.

Over the years, these two sides have put on some pulsating contests, including a humiliating defeat for Sevilla in 1958, when Betis ruined the inaugural ceremony for the newly-built Estadio Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan, beating their rivals 4-2 in their new home.

But it is in recent years that the duo have really given us some classic contests to enjoy, so 90min is on hand to run through five of the best games between Sevilla and arch rivals Betis.

Betis 3-3 Sevilla (2013)

Goals, fights, and more goals. This game had the lot. In 2013, Sevilla hosted Betis at Estadio Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan in what proved to be an epic encounter. Los Nervionenses took the lead early on, when Ivan Rakitic gave the opposing goalkeeper the eyes and snuck a low shot into the near post. Rakitic then doubled the visitors' lead on 18 minutes with a delicate and delightful chip, giving the visitors full control.

And Sevilla looked to have wrapped up the game just after the half-hour mark through a close-range Alvaro Negredo finish. But a moment of sloppiness at the end of the first half let the hosts back into the game, when Gary Medel's attempted clearance ricocheted off Dorlan Pabón, who raced through on goal to dink home. Federico Fazio then conceded a penalty for a push in the box, and Ruben Castro brought Betis within one from the spot, with more than half an hour left on the clock.

An incident near the touchline then sparked a mass brawl, in which the hot-headed Medel raised his hand to an opponent's face, and Sevilla were down to ten men, and holding on. But hold on they couldn't, as with two minutes to play, Nosa Igiebor powered home a superb header to give Betis a dramatic and stunning comeback.

And breathe.

Betis 0-2 Sevilla (2014)

This encounter was the first time Betis and Sevilla had met in European competition, and it did not disappoint. Betis had stunned the Sevilla faithful in the first game, beating the hosts 2-0 to take a commanding lead into the second leg of this round of 16 clash.

But Sevilla came roaring back at the Estadio Benito Villamarín, starting the game at a blistering pace, and drawing first blood on 20 minutes through local hero José Antonio Reyes. The game remained locked at 1-0 until the 75th minute, when Carlos Bacca latched onto another pinpoint Alberto Moreno cross to tap in and level the scores, sending the match to extra-time. A further half an hour of action couldn't separate the bitter rivals, and so it went to a penalty shootout.

And Sevilla goalkeeper Beto was the hero of the hour, saving two spot-kicks and helping his side to a 4-3 shootout victory. A monumental win on the road to 2014 Europa League glory.

Sevilla 3-5 Betis (2018)

One of the greatest matches in La Liga history. Betis kicked off the game in style, opening the scoring inside 30 seconds through a curling long-range Fabian Ruiz strike. Wissam Ben Yedder equalised with a deft flick 11 minutes later, but Zouhair Feddal restored Los Verdiblancos' lead with a bullet header soon after. The home side went into half-time on level terms however, thanks to a Simon Kjaer looping header.

Betis started the second half as the stronger side, and Riza Durmisi gave the visitors a 3-2 lead following some more shoddy Sevilla defending. And one minute later, the game looked to be dead and buried, when Sergio Leon doubled their advantage with a lovely delicate finish. But within two minutes, Los Nervionenses had halved their deficit through Joaquin Correa. Game on - again.

Steven N'Zonzi hit the crossbar as Sevilla looked to pull level for a third time, but Betis rounded off the scoring deep in injury time, when Cristian Tello raced through and slotted cooly home. A rollercoaster.

Betis 1-0 Sevilla (2018)

Although this particular episode may lack the goals and breathless drama, it is full of narrative and fairytale that other derbies can only dream of. This 2018 clash between Betis and Sevilla is remembered for the story of one man, who started, and will surely finish his career with Los Verdiblancos.

Joaquin is a Betis legend, and although he spent almost a decade away from the club, he returned to the place he calls home in 2015. And it was three years later that he enjoyed his glorious moment in the Seville sun.

With the scores locked at 0-0, Joaquin was introduced as a second-half substitute to try and change the game. And he did just that. With ten minutes to play, the Betis legend, well into his late, late thirties, popped up at the far post and nodded home a header which sent the home crowd into absolute delirium. A moment which every Betis fan will savour forever.

Sevilla 3-2 Betis (2019)

A game of stunning goals, and plenty of them. Sevilla would control the match for large periods, and they started in a similar vein, after Munir nodded home to give the hosts the lead. But Betis fired back ten minutes into the second half, thanks to a perfectly-executed Giovanni Lo Celso whipped strike.

But this was to be Sevilla's day, and another curling cross landed at the feet of Pablo Sarabia, who volleyed home smartly, before Franco Vazquez put the game beyond Betis with a pile-driver which flew beyond Pau Lopez.

This private 'goal of the month' competition wasn't over just yet though, as Tello hit a fearsome and unstoppable free-kick into the top corner, to give Betis some hope of a late comeback. It wasn't to be, but what an advert for the beautiful game it was.