SEVILLE (Interstat) — Isco scored the only goal as Betis defeated Feyenoord 1-0 on Wednesday in a tightly contested European match. Isco played 80 minutes and delivered the breakthrough for the home side. Feyenoord could not find an equalizer before the final whistle. Betis improved to 2-0 in the competition, while Feyenoord dropped to 1-1. Across all competitions, Betis is now 9-2-3 and Feyenoord is 8-1-2. The result kept Betis unbeaten in the competition and handed Feyenoord its first loss in the event.

Betis entered after a 5-2 home loss to Barcelona in its previous match, while Feyenoord had won 4-3 at Telstar in its most recent outing. Feyenoord arrived with a strong overall run, including a 3-2 home win over Como, a 2-0 home victory against AZ Alkmaar, a 5-0 home win over Utrecht and a 7-0 road win at Zwolle. Feyenoord had also beaten NEC 3-1 and Cambuur 5-2, with draws against Den Haag and Go Ahead. Betis had recent wins over FC Porto and Osasuna, plus a 1-0 home victory against Real Madrid. Betis had also beaten Getafe 1-0 at home, drawn 0-0 with Getafe, drawn 1-1 at Dep. A Coruna and won 2-1 at Villarreal. Betis had also played to a scoreless draw with Ceuta. Feyenoord had won at Jong Sparta Rotterdam 1-0. Those results set the backdrop, but the home side found the decisive moment and protected it.

Three yellow cards were issued during the match. Feyenoord’s Marmol was shown a yellow card in the 14th minute. Vanhoutte was booked for Feyenoord in the 52nd minute. Betis’s Riquelme received a yellow card in the 86th minute. No other cards were issued during the match. Marmol’s booking came in the first half, while Vanhoutte’s came after the break. Feyenoord made late changes while seeking a response, but Betis held its lead.

Both teams turned to their benches as the second half progressed. Betis had substitutions involving Fornals and Antony in the 64th minute. Feyenoord had substitutions involving St. Juste and Vanhoutte in the 79th minute. Betis then had substitutions involving Isco and Parrott in the 80th minute. Betis had another substitution involving Bellerin in the 82nd minute, while Feyenoord had one involving Valente in the same minute. Feyenoord made a final substitution involving Targhalline in the 90th minute plus two minutes of stoppage time. Betis used five substitution events in all, while Feyenoord used four. Both teams made their substitutions before the closing stretch, and Betis retained the lead. The substitutions came in the second half and stoppage time.

Isco’s goal proved enough for Betis, which held its lead through the closing stages. The home side managed the final minutes without conceding and secured its second win in the competition. Feyenoord, which entered with a strong overall record, was left to rue its inability to convert its possession and late changes into a goal. Betis’s defense protected the one-goal advantage to the end. Betis saw out the win. Betis next visits Celta before hosting Malaga, with matches against Elche CF Ilicitano and Sevilla also ahead. Feyenoord next visits PSV before hosting Sittard, with games against Heerenveen, Excelsior and Ajax on its schedule. The result left Betis with two wins from two competition matches and Feyenoord with one win and one loss in the event.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Betis 1, Feyenoord 1. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Feyenoord with a 76.9 percent probability to win. Betis had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -1. The total score of 1 went over the over/under line of 3.5.