Real Sociedad defeat Betis 5-1 in Spanish league

Spain: Real Sociedad's promising playmaker Ruben Pardo set up three goals to lead a 5-1 rout of bottom side Real Betis in the Spanish league on Sunday.

Sociedad may have flopped out of the Champions League, but have found their form in the domestic competition where they have won six of their last eight games and climbed into sixth place and the Europa League positions.

The hosts overwhelmed Betis on the league debut of coach Juan Carlos Garrido, who replaced the fired Pepe Mel. The Seville-based side are now winless in the last nine rounds.

Sociedad's Imanol Agirretxe scored his first of two goals six minutes in at Anoeta Stadium by chipping the ball over Betis goalkeeper Stephan Andersen after Pardo had played him clear.

Jorge Molina, who would later hit the woodwork twice, leveled for Betis in the 16th.

Sociedad created several chances before defender Jon Ansotegi headed home Pardo's outswinging corner kick in the 55th.

Carlos Vela then found Antoine Griezmann to finish off a counter attack seven minutes later to put the result beyond doubt.

Griezmann's goal gave him 10 for the season, third in the league only behind Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo (17) and Atletico Madrid's Diego Costa (15).

The 21-year-old Pardo passed back to meet Agirretxe's move in the box in the 68th, and the striker unleashed a fine left-footed shot for his second goal. Xabi Prieto capped the victory five minutes from time.

Also, Almeria settled for a 0-0 draw at home against Espanyol after their coach was ejected from the dugouts and Jose "Verza" Garcia missed a penalty he had to repeat in the first half.

The result kept Almeria near the bottom of the Spanish league while Espanyol stayed in the middle of the table.

Striker Jhon Cordoba's sixth-minute shot deflected off the goalkeeper and onto the crossbar in Espanyol's best chance of the match.

Verza missed a 23rd-minute penalty he had to repeat after team-mate Oscar Diaz had entered the area during his first attempt, which he converted.

Almeria coach Francisco Rodriguez was ejected during a scuffle between both teams near the dugouts in the 32nd.

Later, Atletico host Valencia needing a victory to retain their share of the league lead with Barcelona, while Sevilla welcome Athletic Bilbao.