Betis star Isco to serve one-match ban against Barcelona

Manuel Pellegrini knew that Isco would be essential in his team's scheme to beat Sevilla in 'El Gran Derbi'. And so it was. After Lukebakio's opener and Cardoso's equaliser, the former Real Madrid midfielder set up Cucho Hernandez with a great through ball to leave the striker one-on-one with Nyland and make it 2-1 to the home side.

As a result of the defensive involvement that Isco is used to in Betis, the No 22 saw the yellow card that will not allow him to be involved in the next matchday with Betis. When Sevilla were playing the ball out form the back, the playmaker tackled Juanlu Sanchez to steal the ball from him. The referee understood that Isco hit the Sevilla player as well, pointed out the foul and showed him a yellow card for stopping the counterattack.

The player from Arroyo de la Miel took his hands to his head because he believed he touched the ball and because he also knew that the caution would result in a one-match ban. He will miss, effectively, Betis' away match against Barcelona at the Lluis Companys in another key match for the Andalusian side and their aspirations to the fifth place that could lead to Champions League.

It is a more than significant loss, which loses a player who has six goals and four assists in the last seven games with the Andalusians.