Valencia (Spain): Spanish football side Real Betis beat Levante 1-0 here in a La Liga match where the home side saw three shots bounce off the woodwork.

The latest in a string of away victories on Friday left the Seville side with 18 points from 13 matches, good enough for ninth place in La Liga, reports.

Levante, meanwhile, sit in the 19th spot with 10 points.

The nearly 14,000 spectators at the Estadi Ciutat de Valencia were treated to a dynamic contest, with solid chances and notable saves at both ends of the field, though Ruben Castro’s early goal ultimately proved to be decisive.

Castro’s eighth league tally of the season came in the fourth minute, set up by Joaquin’s rush down the left side.

Undaunted, Levante came charging back and came agonisingly close to equalising just four minutes later, when a blunder by Betis’ Bruno left Verza alone with the ball in front of the goal.

Though Verza’s strike hit the post, the ball landed at the feet of Deyverson. Staring at a wide-open net, the Brazilian hit the crossbar.

Levante continued to press against a visiting side that seemed content to wait for a chance on the counter-attack, though it was only an impressive stop by Ruben that prevented Castro from doubling Betis’ lead just after the quarter-hour mark.

While possession was more even after the break, Levante got the first chance of the second half in the 54th minute, but Deyverson again hit the crossbar.

The home side turned up the intensity in the last 15 minutes, but Betis weathered the onslaught, even though Heiko Westermann’s ejection in the 79th minute for a second yellow card left the visitors with only 10 man.