BARCELONA, Spain — In a competitive clash in the Spanish league, Real Madrid found themselves outmaneuvered by Real Betis, succumbing to a 2-1 defeat Saturday. The hero for Betis was former Real Madrid player Isco Alarcón, who orchestrated his current squad’s comeback to dethrone the reigning champions.
Isco’s decisive contribution came in the first half when his expertly delivered corner found Johnny Cardoso, who headed the ball past the Madrid defense to equalize after Brahim Díaz had given the visitors an early advantage. Isco then put Betis in front thanks to a penalty he converted after being brought down by Madrid’s Antonio Rudiger.
Real Madrid, who were on equal points with Barcelona, are now trailing Atletico Madrid by two points. The pressure is mounting, especially with Barcelona poised to face Real Sociedad on Sunday. Meanwhile, Atletico solidified their top spot thanks to Julián Álvarez’s crucial strike in a narrow 1-0 victory over Athletic Bilbao.
Kylian Mbappé’s return to the lineup for Madrid was short-lived. Sidelined last match due to a dental issue, he lasted for 75 minutes before being substituted. Carlo Ancelotti later admitted his star player wasn’t at full capacity, attributing the lackluster team performance to the disruptions in training.
The loss highlighted Madrid’s shaky form, with just one win in their last five games—a slump magnified by previous losses to lower-ranked teams like Espanyol. Madrid prepares to face Atletico again in an upcoming Champions League clash, seeking redemption.
Isco, once a pivotal asset at Madrid, left the club three years ago but reminded fans and former teammates of his value with a standout performance, lauding his squad’s collective effort for the result. He expressed gratitude for his time at Madrid but took pride in helping his current team prevail.
Despite recovering from a leg injury, which had implications for his international career, Isco exhibited no signs of slowing down. His aspirations to represent Spain again remain alive, though his focus remains firmly with Betis.
Madrid had kicked off strongly, leading through a coordinated effort between Mbappé and Ferland Mendy, which was converted by Brahim Díaz. Yet, Betis’s watchdog defense, perfected by coach Manuel Pellegrini, thwarted any further Madrid ambitions afterward.
Real Madrid suffered notably from the absences of Jude Bellingham, who was banned, and injured players Dani Ceballos and Federico Valverde. Real Betis also had key players sidelined but managed to excel nonetheless.
In another Spanish league event, Atletico Madrid capitalized on their rivals’ downturns. Substitute Álvarez, demonstrating his knack for game-winning goals, added his 21st tally of the season, doing so in style in a tight-face off against Athletic. This result halted Athletic’s impressive 16-game undefeated streak.
Elsewhere, Sevilla and Rayo Vallecano drew 1-1, with Sevilla’s Dodi Lukebakio netting an equalizer. Celta Vigo’s fixture with Girona ended in a 2-2 stalemate, rounding off a day of gripping Spanish football.
