Diego Villares Rescues a 1-1 Draw for Deportivo Against Real Betis

Villares changes the outcome late

Deportivo La Coruna and Real Betis drew 1-1 at Estadio de Riazor in La Coruna on Sunday, September 20, 2026. Real Betis led at half-time after Cucho Hernández scored in the 43rd minute, but Diego Villares equalised three minutes from the end. The result was a draw in La Liga's seventh regular-season round.

Real Betis, set up in a 4-3-3 by M. Pellegrini, took the lead through a direct attacking moment. Nelson Deossa supplied the assist for Cucho Hernández, who finished to make it 1-0. The goal gave Betis the advantage despite Deportivo's greater attacking volume across the match.

Deportivo's pressure finally produces an equaliser

Deportivo coach Antonio Hidalgo used a 4-4-2, and his team kept pressing after the interval. Diego Villares entered in the 34th minute for Marc Casadó and later delivered the decisive contribution. Mario Soriano provided the assist in the 87th minute, allowing Villares to level the score at 1-1.

The substitutions continued to shape the second half. Isco replaced Nelson Deossa in the 61st minute, while Facundo Bernal came on for Antony Matheus dos Santos a minute later for Betis. Deportivo also introduced Luismi Cruz and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang for Riki Rodríguez and Jonathan Asp Jensen in the 65th minute. Villares was the most influential replacement, ending with a match rating of 8.2, one shot on target and the equalising goal in 56 minutes.

Shot count favours the home side

The statistics show a contest in which Betis controlled the ball but Deportivo created more attempts. Betis held 57% possession and completed 502 accurate passes from 576 total, compared with Deportivo's 363 accurate passes from 419. However, Deportivo registered 23 shots to Betis' 11, including 17 from inside the box to Betis' seven. The hosts also had seven shots on goal, while Betis had four.

Álvaro Vallés kept Betis ahead for long periods with six saves, while Deportivo's goalkeeper made two. Deportivo also won the corner count 11-5. Those figures help explain why Betis' half-time lead did not last, although Betis' possession and passing numbers showed their control between the penalty areas.

One point each in the standings

The provided La Liga table lists Deportivo seventh with nine points from six matches, recording two wins, three draws and one loss. Real Betis are fourth with 15 points from six games after five wins and one loss. The draw adds to Deportivo's sequence of three draws in their listed pre-match form, while it interrupts Betis' run of three consecutive wins in that sequence.

Bright Ede received Deportivo's only yellow card in the third minute. Diego Valentín Gómez was booked for Betis in the 65th minute. Neither side received a red card, and the match ended with the teams sharing the points.