Sports

Real Betis Stuns Real Madrid on C. Ronaldo return

Published

7 years ago

September 21, 2017

Real Betis ruined Cristiano Ronaldo’s return to domestic action as Real Madrid slumped to a 1-0 defeat at the Bernabeu on Wednesday night – Betis’ first win over Real in 19 years.

As Real threw everyone forward in search of a winner late in the day, Betis countered, with Antonio Sanabria heading a stoppage-time winner to spark jubilation on the Betis bench.

Ronaldo – returning from suspension after his red card in the Spanish Super Cup – had numerous chances to ensure Real made it 74 consecutive games finding the back of the net, but couldn’t find a way past the excellent Antonio Adan in the Betis goal.

Gareth Bale came closest for the hosts, but saw his brilliant flicked effort tipped on the post by Adan, before Sanabria scored the most dramatic of winners to inflict a defeat which leaves Zinedine Zidane’s men seven points behind leaders Barcelona, and still without a win at home in the league all season.

Real Madrid: Navas (7), Carvajal (6), Ramos (6), Varane (6), Marcelo (6), Casemiro (6), Kroos (7), Modric (7), Isco (5), Bale (6), Ronaldo (5).

Subs: Vazquez (6), Asensio (6), Borja (6).

Real Betis: Adan (9), Feddal (7), Durmisi (7), Barragan (7), Mandi (7), Javi Garcia (8), Fabian (7), Camarasa (7), Sanabria (8), Tello (7), Francis (6).

Subs: Boudebouz (6), Joaquin (6), Guardado (6).

Man of the match: Antonio Adan

Real began the game on the back foot, and would have been behind as early as the fourth minute but for Dani Carvajal’s brilliant clearance from under his own crossbar to deny Sanabria.

Six minutes later and Real had also been denied by a block on the line. Sergio Ramos headed the ball back across into the dangerzone, Ronaldo back-heeled for goal, but Javi Garcia was there to get his body in the way and clear.

The half-chances kept coming for Real, with Modric finding the side-netting from a good position but, on the whole, Betis were comfortable for the remainder of the first half, and were only denied an opener by a fine Keylor Navas stop late in the half.

As expected, Cristiano Ronaldo made his return from suspension. Teenage full-back Theo Hernandez has a partially dislocated shoulder so he missed out, while Borja Mayoral was the man to make way for Ronaldo. Toni Kroos also returned. There was no Karim Benzema in the squad. Betis’ veteran Joaquin, who netted twice at the weekend, was only on the bench.

Ronaldo’s moment came just after the interval, but with the Bernabeu expecting the net to ripple, Ronaldo blazed Bale’s perfect cross over the top with the goal at his mercy.

The chances came thick and fast. Francis wasted a glorious chance for Betis when clean through as the youngster blazed over, before Carvajal could only find the side netting on the slide from close range.

Zidane tried everything as he searched for that elusive opener, with four strikers on the pitch for the final 20 minutes. Bale tried the outrageous flick through his legs, which Adan acrobatically kept out, setting up the most dramatic of final few minutes.