Real Madrid stumbled in their effort to climb above Barcelona in the LaLiga standings, as they were handed a narrow defeat by Real Betis, courtesy of Isco’s deciding goal in the 54th minute at Benito Villamarin Stadium. It marked the second defeat this month for Los Blancos.
The match kicked off positively for Madrid, as Brahim Diaz struck early in the 10th minute. Kylian Mbappe and Ferland Mendy orchestrated a brilliant play, resulting in Diaz finding the net after a sharp interaction near the Betis box. However, Betis, boosted by the participation of Antony—who luckily saw his temporary suspension lifted—managed to level the score just before the break. Johnny Cardoso, celebrating his first LaLiga score of the season, rose to the occasion, heading in an Isco-delivered corner kick to even the game.
A close call came just before the halftime whistle, when Madrid’s keeper, Thibaut Courtois, expertly kept Cardoso’s header from crossing the goal line. Unfortunately for Madrid, their luck ran out soon after the break. A mishap saw 19-year-old Jesus Rodriguez fouled inside the box by Madrid’s Antonio Rudiger. Former Madrid star Isco stepped up and made no mistake from the penalty spot, putting Betis in front—a lead they held onto.
With Carlo Ancelotti’s crew having played one more match than their adversaries, they now find themselves trailing Barcelona on goal difference and holding a slim lead over Atletico Madrid.
The clash against his old team surely had a special significance for Isco, once a prominent figure at Real Madrid. The seasoned midfielder spent nearly a decade at the Santiago Bernabeu, earning an impressive haul of accolades, including three LaLiga and five Champions League titles. A brief stint at Sevilla later, Isco moved to Betis, and his goal today was a stark reminder of his past brilliance, having secured 53 goals in 353 appearances for Madrid.
His decisive contribution not only left Madrid reeling in their tight title chase but nearly concluded with another Betis goal, as Cucho Hernandez grazed the target midway through the second half. Madrid, managing Mbappe’s recent recovery post-dental surgery, opted for his substitution with quarter-hour remaining.
Looking ahead, Real Madrid faces a challenging road. They have not tasted victory in their last four LaLiga matches away from home, beginning with their 1-0 loss at Espanyol at the start of February. Their upcoming fixture sees them travel to Villarreal, a team in fifth place with a solid home record.
In upcoming matches, Atletico faces Athletic Bilbao on home turf at 8 p.m. GMT on Saturday, with Barcelona poised to host Real Sociedad the following day at 3.15 p.m. Madrid’s immediate schedule remains packed, as they host Atletico in the Champions League last 16 on Tuesday and then face Rayo Vallecano in league action the following weekend.
Meanwhile, Betis climbs to sixth after back-to-back home victories. Their Europa Conference League run continues with a Thursday clash against Vitoria, where they’ll aim to carry their positive momentum forward.
