Real Betis delivered a significant blow to Real Madrid‘s perfect start in La Liga, securing a dramatic 1-0 victory in Seville. Substitute Troy Parrott netted the decisive goal in the 81st minute, before goalkeeper Álvaro Valles became the hero with a stoppage-time penalty save from Kylian Mbappé.
Late Drama Seals Betis Victory
The match, which saw a high tempo early on before slowing in the Seville heat, came alive in its closing stages. Real Betis broke the deadlock when Troy Parrott, introduced in the 68th minute, reacted quickest after Thibaut Courtois parried a header. The Republic of Ireland forward pounced on the rebound to give his side a crucial lead.
Real Madrid, managed by José Mourinho, were handed a golden opportunity to salvage a point deep into stoppage time. Natan brought down Vinícius Júnior inside the penalty area, leading to a spot-kick. However, Álvaro Valles guessed correctly, diving to save Kylian Mbappé’s effort and preserve Betis’s narrow advantage.
Madrid’s Frustration Mounts
The defeat marked the end of Real Madrid’s flawless start to their league campaign. Earlier in the match, Carlos Espí thought he had equalised for Real Madrid with a spectacular bicycle kick from a Vinícius cross, but the goal was disallowed for offside following a VAR review. Mbappé also came close to scoring, striking the crossbar just four minutes after Betis took the lead, highlighting the fine margins of the contest. Nelson Deossa nearly extended Betis’s lead with a long-range shot, but Courtois recovered to make the save.
Speaking after the match, José Mourinho acknowledged his side’s control of possession and creation of chances, despite the unfavourable result. He expressed satisfaction with his players’ attitude and individual performances, suggesting that deserving to win does not always translate into points. Mourinho also hinted that Betis’s players displayed more ‘streetwise’ qualities compared to his own squad.
This result represents a rare setback for a Real Madrid side that had otherwise begun the season strongly, leaving Mourinho visibly frustrated with the manner of the loss.