Real Madrid saw their already narrow La Liga title chances weaken further after being held to a dramatic draw by Real Betis. The outcome left Madrid eight points behind leaders Barcelona, who still have a game in hand against Getafe with five rounds remaining.
The visitors made a strong start and took the lead through Vinicius Junior, who scored his second goal in four days. A long-range effort from Federico Valverde was only partially stopped by goalkeeper Álvaro Valles, allowing the Brazilian to react quickly and convert the rebound.
Madrid had further opportunities to extend their advantage, including a well-worked move finished by Kylian Mbappé, but the attempt was ruled out for offside, cancelling out an impressive assist from Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Betis’s response and late drama
Despite falling behind, Betis continued to push forward and create pressure. Madrid goalkeeper Andriy Lunin, deputizing for the injured Thibaut Courtois, was required to produce at least two outstanding saves to keep his side in front.
As the match neared its conclusion, Betis maintained their attacking intent and eventually found a way through in stoppage time. The equalizer came after Ferland Mendy went to ground appealing for a foul, but play was allowed to continue.
In the resulting sequence, Héctor Bellerín calmly finished inside a crowded penalty area, sending the 54,000 spectators at Estadio La Cartuja into celebration.
Standings and implications
The draw extended Madrid’s difficult run, with the team now winless in five of their last six matches across all competitions. This setback further complicates their pursuit of the league leaders at a crucial stage of the season.
For Betis, the result helped maintain their position in fifth place. They sit six points ahead of Getafe while remaining seven points behind Atletico Madrid.