Real Betis 2-1 Real Madrid: Los Blancos fluff chance to regain lead at top of LaLiga as former Barcelona man Cristian Tello strikes late to secure surprise win for Real Betis
- Real Madrid missed a chance to regain their lead at the top of La Liga on Sunday
- Real Betis defender Sidnei gave the hosts the lead with a stunning strike
- He went from hero to zero moments later after bringing down Marcelo in his box
- Benzema stepped up and made no mistake as he stroked home a clinical penalty
- Ex-Barcelona man Cristian Tello clinched a shock win with just ten mins to go
Former Barcelona winger Cristian Tello made sure his old team stayed top of LaLiga by scoring the goal that beat Real Madrid 2-1 on Sunday night.
With 82 minutes on the clock and the game evenly poised at 1-1 a loose pass from Karim Benzema put Real Madrid in trouble. Andre Guardado got to the ball ahead of Sergio Ramos who had gambled everything on flying into the challenge only to come up empty.
Guardado released Tello and the second half substitute ran onto it sprinting to the edge of the area before firing it past Thibaut Courtois.
Real Madrid fluffed their chance to regain their LaLiga lead as Real Betis earned a shock win
Karim Benzema struck from the spot just before half time to level the scores at Real Betis
Benzema clinches his fist in celebration after equalising for the visitors on Sunday evening
Betis defender Sidnei had given the hosts a surprise lead with a stunning strike from range
Moments later, the Betis defender became the villain as he brought down Marcelo in his box
Real Betis (4-1-4-1): Robles; Moreno (Alfonso 77), Sidnei, Bartra, Emerson; Gonzalez (Rodriguez 73); Fekir, Canales, Guardado, Joaquin (Tello 66); Loren
Subs not used: Alena, Iglesias, Mandi, Martin Fernandez
Booked: Guardiola
Goals: Sidnei (40), Tello (82)
Manager: Rubi
Real Madrid (4-1-4-1): Courtois; Militao, Varane, Ramos, Marcelo (Mendy 60); Casemiro; Lucas, Modric (Valverde 79), Kroos (Mariano 69), Vinicius; Benzema
Subs not used: Areola, Bale, Rodriguez, Rodrygo
Booked: Marcelo
Goals: Benzema (45+3)
Manager: Zinedine Zidane
Attendance: 51,521
Barcelona gave up on Tello in 2014 loaning him out and eventually selling him. The homegrown winger had shown promise but often infuriated Lionel Messi with a selfish streak in the final third. There will be no complaints from Barcelona now over his single-mindedness in front of goal.
Real Madrid desperately tried to get back in the game but Betis clung on and Zinedine Zidane’s team lose the lead to Barça just seven days after beating them in the Clasico.
Real Madrid had started slowly with Vinicius shooting just past the near post when a pass to Toni Kroos might have been the better option.
Betis got into their stride but the nerves of coming into the game hovering above the relegation zone told. Loren Moron kicked his team-mate Andres Guardado in the stomach as both went for the same ball and defender Marc Bartra headed over from three yards out after a Militao clearance had gone straight to him.
On minute 37 Betis almost took the lead when Nabil Fekir flashed a shot goalwards from Sergio Canales’ pass but Courtois pushed it away with the save of the half.
Real Madrid’s in-form goalkeeper could do nothing about what came next. Fekir collided with Ramos and as everyone stopped to see if the referee would point to the spot the loose ball dropped to Sidnei and the centre-back sent a rocket shot past Courtois into the roof of the net. It was his first of the season, no wonder he stood atop the advertising hoarding behind the goal as if he had just landed Betis the title.
But two minutes into injury time Real Madrid were back in the game and it was the same man involved, this time not for better but for worse.
Nabil Fekir and Casemiro battle it out in midfield in Sunday evening’s LaLiga showdown
Madrid captain Sergio Ramos watches on as Betis winger Joaquin looks to nip in front
Benzema looks to free himself from Marc Batra and Sergio Canales and spring an attack
Having put his foot through the ball to give his team the lead, Sidnei put his foot through Marcelo in his own penalty area. The Brazilian full-back flew up in the air and after Referee Jose Luis Gonzalez had pointed to the spot Benzema scored to make it 1-1.
Ten minutes into the second half so nearly took the lead again. A sweeping move from one end of the pitch to the other with brilliant passes from Fekir and Canales released Joaquin into the area.
He went around Courtois but with the option of shooting or trying to square for Canales he hit a cross-shot that was cleared by Luka Modric scrambling to save on the line.
Joaquin rounded Courtois but wasted an opportunity to put his side in front in the second half
Benzema looks on in disbelief as his side fail to defeat Real Betis in their LaLiga clash
Madrid didn’t respond until Zidane brought on Ferland Mendy and Mariano. The latter’s energy put Betis on the back foot and when Luka Modric’s shot from distance was punched out by Joel the ball came back out to Mendy and his shot hit the crossbar.
It was still Betis who carried the greater threat. Fekir bamboozled Militao on the halfway line and when the attack ran to Guardado his volley went just over.
Vinicius then put the ball through Emerson’s legs and darted around him. His pace and power took him to the byline and he showed the poise to pick out Mariano but the substitute’s flick failed to come off and the chance had gone.
Sunday night’s result leaves Zinedine Zidane’s side second behind arch rivals Barcelona
In the end it was the Betis sub who would have the last word. ‘When you don’t do during the game what you have been training all week,’ this is what happens,’ lamented Ramos.
‘We have to keep picking up wins from here and hope Barcelona slip up. We did not get carried away last week [when we won the Clasico] so we will not do so over this result.
‘But it’s a fair result and we just have to be self-critical and go again.’
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