Real Betis 1 : 1 Racing de Santander - Santander stop the rot

Christian Stuani's 79th-minute equaliser helped Racing Santander end their four-match losing streak with a 1-1 draw against Real Betis but did little to ease the Cantabrian side's growing relegation worries.

Betis put themselves on course for their first win in five matches when Roque Santa Cruz fired them ahead in the 18th minute, but for the second successive match they were undone by a late leveller.

On Thursday they conceded a 94th-minute equaliser to draw 1-1 against Espanyol, and although Stuani's goal on Sunday was not as agonising as that one, it still denied 15th-placed Betis two valuable points in their fight against the drop.

The situation is looking even more drastic for Racing, though.

With Villarreal winning on Sunday, third-bottom Racing are now six points adrift of safety, while bottom side Real Zaragoza look to be getting into form at just the right time with 10 points from their last five games to move level with Santander and second-bottom Sporting Gijon.

Racing had the first chance in the fifth minute, but Adrian Gonzalez fired wide and Betis then took control.

Jefferson Montero and Jonathan Pereira both tried their luck before Benat Etxebarria drew a superb save out of Mario Fernandez in the 17th minute.

Betis were not to be denied for long though and, within 60 seconds of that opportunity, they took the lead when Santa Cruz slotted in Pereira's cross from the right.

That goal separated the teams at the break, although Betis might have been further ahead if Montero had made the most of his chance just before half-time, with Fernandez parrying the shot away.

The hosts continued to press after the restart with Etxebarria testing Fernandez and Pereira and Montero both sending shots wide.

Ruben Castro also brought three good saves out of Fernandez as Betis pushed hard for a second goal.

However, they could not make any of those openings count and paid for it 11 minutes time as Racing drew level.

Stuani had only been on the pitch five minutes after replacing Adrian, but he made the most of the first chance that came his way as he headed Pedro Munitis' left-wing cross past Fabricio Agosto to salvage a point for the visitors.