Real Betis 1-2 Real Madrid
Real Madrid got back to winning ways in the La Liga, but it wasn’t a performance they would be happy about.
Los Blancos almost dropped points once again after seeing a dominant Real Betis equalise late in the second half. Fortunately for the former champions, super-sub Dani Ceballos stepped up big time to fire them to victory.
Santiago Solari and his boys will take a win and all three points any day of the week; however, they know they have a lot to improve and issues to address if they want to keep their already slim chances of winning the title alive.
Highlights of the game
It wasn’t a vintage performance for the Madrid giants. Heck, it was even far from their best.
Nonetheless, it didn’t start that way as Real Madrid showed glimpses of what they are capable of doing when they find their stride.
Solari’s charges were given an early lead when Luka Modric scored on 13 minutes. The 2018 Golden Ball winner rebounded a loose ball from a Daniel Carvajal shot and lashed it from the top of the box, leaving Betis keeper Pau Lopez helpless.
Real Madrid failed to build from their brilliant start though, and while they were the more aggressive team on offence, they weren’t able to add more to their tally in the opening frame.
Real Betis—a team known for keeping the ball on long periods—stuck to their game plan throughout the first half, allowing them to limit Real Madrid’s opportunities to attack. And in the second period, the home team got a much-needed break.
Sergio Canales levelled matters for Real Betis on 67 minutes, thanks to Giovani Lo Celso who perfectly teed up the 27-year-old midfielder through the middle and past Nacho and Raphael Varane.
VAR is called upon for what was a suspected offside. Nevertheless, after a lengthy review, match officials confirmed Canales was onside during the play.
What was seemingly a game heading to a draw took a major twist when Real Madrid got a lucky break just moments before the end of normal time.
Ceballos, who was introduced against his former team in the 74th minute, took advantage of a weak Betis wall to convert off a free-kick.
Casemiro received a free-kick after he was fouled by William Carvalho three minutes before time. Ceballos then took the ensuing shot from 45 yards out and fired straight into the net.
Ceballos probably would have loved to start, but he came on with a point to prove and made the most of his cameo.
“I had a lot of confidence and was eager to show what I can do,” shared Ceballos who joined Real Madrid from Betis on a six-year contract in the summer of 2017. “These three points are golden.”
Key statistics
Real Madrid needed the win. They haven’t won a La Liga match since mid-December 2018, even losing 0-2 to Real Sociedad last week.
However, they didn’t show they wanted the victory that bad and just got a little lucky against a Betis team that had plenty of lapses on the defensive end.
While the La Liga 2019 odds at SBOBET pointed to a close fight, the result was still a bit surprising. In fact, according to the post-match statistics, the Beticos had 74 percent possession compared to Los Blancos’ 26 percent.
To give a better perspective of that stat, that is the lowest possession percentage for Real Madrid since their El Clasico fight with Barcelona way back in 2011—during which Real Madrid had 23 percent.
Even more remarkable, Betis completed 713 passes in the game, with Real Madrid making just 254 passes.
Of course, the end result is what matters more. But the visitors know very well that they won’t get lucky next time. Not against better teams, anyway.
What’s next?
After the latest set of La Liga 2019 results, Real Madrid remain fourth but only behind third-placed Sevilla on goal difference. They are still 10 points behind league leaders and Clasico rivals Barcelona, though.
Real Madrid have a massive game against the Sevillistas next week, and that game is a real six-pointer as the two clubs battle it out for the third spot.
Sevilla are coming off a surprising defeat against Athletic Bilbao the last time out.
On the other hand, Real Betis will look to end a three-game winless run in La Liga when they play host to Girona. Eusebio Sacristan’s team is eighth in the Spanish top flight but is yet to win since November 2018.
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