<p>BARCELONA, Spain — Nabil Fekir scored from a great solo effort to help Real Betis beat Levante 2-0 at home to stay near the top of the Spanish league on Friday.</p>
<p>Fekir received the ball just past the centerline, spun around his marker, and then slalomed past three more defenders before slotting the ball between the legs of goalkeeper Aitor Fernández. </p>
<p>Juan Jiménez added to Fekir’s 70th-minute opener when he finished off a ball Fernández blocked inside the six-yard box.</p>
<p>After his goal, Fekir held up the shirt of teammate Cristian Tello, who missed the game due to the death of his father.</p>
<p>The French forward missed a clear opportunity to get another goal late when he missed from close. </p>
<p>Manuel Pellegrini’s side remained in sixth place and in control of a Europa League berth after its fifth win in six rounds. The win lifted it level on points with fifth-placed Real Sociedad before it hosts Barcelona on Monday. </p>
<p>Levante, which was left in ninth, had the best scoring chances early on when both José Morales and Jorge de Frutos threatened Claudio Bravo’s net.</p>
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