Three red cards were handed out as Sevilla drew 1-1 at Real Betis in Sunday’s El Gran Derbi.
Sevilla’s Jesus Navas scored an own-goal just before the break after Gonzalo Montiel was expelled for the visitors on a play where he was initially handed a yellow card that was upped to a red after VAR.
Then, in injury time just before intermission, Nabil Fekir was also sent off and then just a few minutes after play resumed it was Borja Iglesias who earned a red card following VAR review.
Sevilla was on top during the second half against the nine-man Betis, but it took them until minute 81 to even things up on a long-range shot on goal by Nemanja Gudelj.
Gudelj also got another chance before the final whistle but his shot hit the crossbar.
Betis coach Manuel Pellegrini later said: “It would be necessary to divide the game when we were eleven against eleven and later. The first half was ours, we had to have settled the match.
“Unfortunately the two expulsions unbalanced the match, we were very organised and Sevilla hardly had any chances until they drew. Then we took cover in the back and (Claudio) Bravo appeared. Derbies are like that and I’ve always said that the excesses of emotions are what influence the results. In the end the point is not bad but we were able to win.
“The result had to be defended, but I don’t remember a chance for Sevilla in the first half, so I don’t know who deserved to win eleven against eleven. I don’t remember any save by Bravo until the equaliser. If they are happy, they are within their rights because they are in a very uncomfortable position in the table and perhaps a point is worthy of them.”
