Robert De Pinho put the visiting Andalusians ahead only for Gustavo Lopez to equalise.

The sending-off of Betis player Jesus Capi did not help matters but it was in stoppage time that Fernando Baiano converted the penalty that put the Galicians four points adrift of fourth-bottom Athletic Bilbao and Betis with two games to play.

Betis were quickly out of the blocks and after 25 minutes Celta goalkeeper Jose Pinto foiled David Odonkor who had tried his luck from 25 yards.

Next Juan Andreu Melli curled a free-kick over the bar as Betis went looking for a win that would help them crack the 40-point barrier that is usually enough to ensure top-flight survival.

After 11 minutes Celta started to stir and Anderson Nene's shot was saved at the expense of a corner by Pedro Contreras.

From the corner, Gabriel Sebastian Tamas headed over the Betis bar.

The fleet-footed Odonkor soon forced Pinto to make another save at the other end.

Another promising Betis raid ended with Robert heading over a cross from fellow Brazilian Edu.

Contreras foiled Tamas but it was Betis who took the lead after half an hour.

Odonkor supplied the cross from the right and Robert was unerring with his close-range finish.

Edu missed a chance to double his side's lead but three minutes before the break the men from Vigo were back on terms.

Baiano played in Lopez who found the net with his left foot from the edge of the box.

Capi then got his marching orders for a verbal broadside that earned him a second yellow card.

Early in the second half Baiano fired over from close range as Celta pushed for a second goal.

At the other end Pinto saved well from Alberto Rivera while Contreras foiled his namesake Pablo Conteras.

Pablo Contreras spurned an even better chance for Celta.

Betis threatened when Juanito Gutierrez headed over and then Odonkor had a shot blocked.

Gutierrez came to the rescue at the other end when he blocked a shot from Pablo Garcia but the reprieve proved shortlived for the Andalusians.

Contreras fouled Antonio Nunez and Baiano stepped forward to take the spot kick.

He was successful as he scored a goal that keeps Celta's heads above water although they need to mount a stunning finish to the campaign if they are to extricate themselves from danger.

Betis must win one of their last two games to be sure of staying up in a season where once again they have been eclipsed by city rivals Sevilla.