La Liga Table 2015: Thursday's Week 5 Results and Updated Standings
Real Betis suffered their first home defeat of the season Thursday evening as Deportivo La Coruna climbed to seventh in the La Liga standings following a 2-1 victory, their second consecutive away win.
The clash in Andalusia was the sole fixture to look out for Thursday after a packed week of Spanish drama, with Barcelona suffering their first defeat of the season at Celta Vigo a day earlier.
Deportivo La Coruna came to Seville having managed to avoid defeat at Real Betis in their past four visits, winning twice and drawing twice since the 1-0 defeat they suffered back in February 2006.
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The record extended to five consecutive trips thanks to Thursday's 2-1 victory.
Here's a look at the updated La Liga standings following Thursday's result at the Benito Villamarin:
| 1 | Real Madrid | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 14 | 1 | +13 | 13 |
| 2 | Celta Vigo | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 14 | 6 | +8 | 13 |
| 3 | Villarreal | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 4 | +7 | 13 |
| 4 | Barcelona | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 6 | +3 | 12 |
| 5 | Atletico Madrid | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 2 | +7 | 12 |
| 6 | Espanyol | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 11 | -5 | 9 |
| 7 | Deportivo La Coruna | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 6 | +2 | 8 |
| 8 | Eibar | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 5 | +2 | 8 |
| 9 | Rayo Vallecano | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 7 | -3 | 7 |
| 10 | Valencia | 5 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 6 |
| 11 | Real Betis | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 8 | -5 | 5 |
| 12 | Sporting Gijon | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 5 | -1 | 5 |
| 13 | Real Sociedad | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 4 | +1 | 5 |
| 14 | Las Palmas | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 15 | Athletic Club | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 9 | -4 | 3 |
| 16 | Granada | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 11 | -7 | 3 |
| 17 | Getafe | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 8 | -5 | 3 |
| 18 | Levante | 5 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 9 | -4 | 3 |
| 19 | Malaga | 5 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 3 | -3 | 2 |
| 20 | Sevilla | 5 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 8 | -6 | 2 |
The two teams came into Thursday's clash level on points, with both looking to make their leap into the top half of the table, knowing a win would have propelled either outfit to at least eighth place.
Former Real Madrid and Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Rafael van der Vaart finally made a belated debut for Los Verdiblancos, but it proved to be no cause for great celebration after an injury ended his night early.
It was perhaps to be expected that a cagey affair would unfold in Seville, with two teams desperate to avoid defeat and identical records from their opening four league matches.
A drab opening 45 minutes saw both teams go in scoreless at the break, and Inside La Liga's Geoff Gillingham confirmed that Van der Vaart's disappointing debut was over after 48 minutes:
Under a sea of speculation that the youngster could move from Real Betis in the coming year, his replacement Dani Ceballos was greeted with a chorus of boos upon coming on for manager Pepe Mel's side.
However, the playmaker's technical brilliance was quickly apparent, as Football Manager researcher Daryl Hornby took note of Ceballos' skill:
Fede Cartabia took it upon himself to break the deadlock with a sumptuous strike from long range after 54 minutes, scorching home an effort that Betis stopper Antonio Adan had little chance of preventing.
It took the hosts just five minutes to level, though, thanks to summer signing Petros, with Chris Henson of Football Radar attesting to the attacker's hot-and-cold nature since moving to Andalusia:
Mel made full use of his bench in an attempt to clinch the winner, but Sanchez's side got the crucial third goal after 72 minutes through Faycal Fajr.
Celso Borges did well to head a floated cross back into the centre of the Betis area, and Fajr was lurking to slot home an opening begging to be converted.
It proved to be the decisive effort, and Deportivo just about held on to their three-point haul despite picking up three yellow cards in the final 15 minutes.
Sanchez has little time to savour the victory as he prepares to welcome Espanyol to El Riazor on Sunday, the same day Real Betis will hope to dust themselves down and bounce back at Sporting Gijon.
