Real Madrid stumbled within the three-way race for the Spanish league title as Isco Alarcón guided Real Betis to a 2-1 comeback win over the defending champion.
The former Madrid participant delivered a nook kick that was headed in by fellow midfielder Johnny Cardoso within the thirty fourth minute on Saturday, cancelling out Brahim Díaz’s opener for Madrid.
Isco then put Betis forward from the penalty spot within the 54th after he handed to Jesús Rodríguez and Madrid defender Antonio Rudiger knocked the Betis ahead down within the space.
Madrid’s loss left it degree on factors with Barcelona, which hosts Real Sociedad on Sunday.
Atletico Madrid moved two factors away from them each at the highest of the desk after substitute Julián Álvarez scored to safe a 1-0 win over Athletic Bilbao.
Kylian Mbappé was again beginning for Madrid after lacking one recreation due to an issue with a tooth. Coach Carlo Ancelotti substituted him with quarter-hour left, saying that his dental problem had impeded him from coaching correctly and that his star striker “was not 100%.”
“We weren’t able to keep our initiative and the result got away from us,” Ancelotti stated.
“This is a hard blow, and we have to react. Today we didn’t play well.” Madrid had led the league however is now combating only one victory its final 5 rounds, a poor run that features a defeat at modest Espanyol.
Next for Madrid: Tuesday’s Champions League round-of-16 recreation towards Atletico.
Isco torments previous group
Isco left Madrid three years in the past, having helped it win 5 Champions League titles earlier than he misplaced his beginning job after which struggled to get off the bench.
But Madrid would possibly want it had him again after the 32-year-old midfielder was essentially the most decisive participant on the sector at the Benito Villamarin.
Isco, nonetheless, shared the credit score for the win along with his teammates.
“Madrid has the best players and a million different ways it can hurt you, so if it weren’t for the hard work of the entire team we wouldn’t have been able to do this,” Isco stated, earlier than including that he was nonetheless “grateful” for his time at Madrid.
The playmaker additionally confirmed he has not been slowed down by a leg damage that seemingly price him a spot on Spain’s European Championship facet final summer season. He returned to the sector in December and is enjoying like he’d by no means been away.
“It is a dream of any player to play for his national team,” Isco stated after the win.
“I haven’t played for Spain in six, seven years, so of course I would like to.”
Madrid has good begin and little else
Madrid began sturdy and seemed able to romp when Mbappé performed Ferland Mendy by way of, and the left-back squared the ball for Brahim to attain.
But Isco delivered a swerving nook kick for Cardoso, who was unmarked at the penalty spot to thump a header by way of the arms of Thibaut Courtois. Shortly after, as rain poured down, Courtois needed to make a surprise save to palm one other Cardoso header over the bar in first-half damage time.
Coach Manuel Pellegrini needed to be happy along with his group’s defending as the hosts annoyed any ideas of a Madrid rally after Isco put them forward from the spot.
“We went for the win and generated more scoring chances than they did,” Pellegrini, a former Madrid coach, stated.
“They played better in the first 15 minutes and deserved their goal, but from there on it was our match.” Madrid was with out Jude Bellingham, who was serving the second of a two-game suspension for cursing at a referee. Dani Ceballos was out with a leg damage, and Federico Valverde was recovering from an unspecified knock. Sixth-placed Betis likewise had a number of gamers on the damage checklist, together with midfielders William Carvahlo and Marc Roca.
Atletico takes benefit
Álvarez scored from a go by Marcos Llorente within the 66th after each got here off the bench to assist break by way of Athletic’s protection.
It as the Argentine’s twenty first objective in all competitions since becoming a member of from Manchester City in the summertime, with 10 coming within the league.
Fourth-placed Athletic got here near an equalizer with three efforts off the woodwork, together with two by Iñaki Williams.
It was Athletic’s first loss in league since October 6, ending an unbeaten run of 16 video games.
Published – March 02, 2025 10:36 am IST
