In pictures: La Liga is back as Seville beat Real Betis

Spanish top-flight returns to action after a three-month gap due to coronavirus pandemic

Sevilla's Fernando celebrates scoring their second goal against Real Betis at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium on Thursday, June 12. Seville won the match 2-0 as La Liga returned to action for the first time since the coronavirus lockdown. Reuters

Real Betis players remonstrate with referee Antonio Lahoz after he awarded a penalty to Sevilla. Reuters

Sevilla's Lucas Ocampos opens the scoring from the penalty spot. Reuters

Real Betis' substitute players and technical staff sticking to social distance protocols in the stands. EPA

Sevilla forward Lucas Ocampos celebrates after scoring. EPA

Sevilla players celebrate after Ocampos' goal against Real Betis. EPA

Sevilla's Fernando scores their second goal. Reuters

Sevilla and Real Betis' players in action in front of empty stands at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium. EPA

Sevilla's Oliver Torres shields the ball from Cristian Tello of Real Betis. AP

Real Betis' Cristian Tello battles for the ball with Jules Kounde of Sevilla. Reuters

A stadium worker wearing a face mask sits in the empty stands. AFP

Real Betis' Alex Moreno shoots at goal. Reuters

Sevilla players celebrate after the match. AP

Players hold a minute of silence for coronavirus victims before the match. AFP

Sevilla players celebrate after the match. Reuters

Sevilla beat local rivals Real Betis 2-0 on Thursday as La Liga returned after three months away, becoming the second of Europe's five major leagues to resume following the coronavirus pandemic.

After the Bundesliga in Germany restarted on May 16, La Liga opened its doors again to players but not supporters at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium, where the usually vibrant Seville derby was played in front of empty stands.

The game was the first in Spain's top flight since March 10 but 93 days later another professional fixture has been completed without incident, offering further encouragement to the Premier League in England and Serie A in Italy. Both are set to return next week.

Lucas Ocampos gave Sevilla the lead from a 56th-minute penalty and Fernando then added the second goal for the home side, who are third in the table.