Real Madrid’s title hopes take a major blow
A fourth-minute injury-time goal denied Madrid two crucial points, leaving them eight points behind league leaders Barcelona with just five matches remaining.
KATHMANDU: Real Madrid’s already slim La Liga title hopes suffered another setback after they were held to a 1-1 draw by Real Betis, conceding a late equaliser in stoppage time.
A fourth-minute injury-time goal denied Madrid two crucial points, leaving them eight points behind league leaders Barcelona with just five matches remaining.
Barcelona’s victory over Getafe on Saturday could extend that gap to 11 points, putting Carlo Ancelotti’s side in an almost impossible position in the title race.
At the Estadio La Cartuja in Seville, Real Madrid took the lead in the 17th minute through Vinícius Júnior. Betis goalkeeper Álvaro Valles parried Federico Valverde’s long-range effort, and Vinícius reacted quickly to slot home the rebound from close range.
Madrid had several chances to extend their lead. Kylian Mbappé saw one goal ruled out for offside and later struck the crossbar, while both Vinícius and Jude Bellingham also failed to convert promising opportunities.
As the match progressed, Betis grew into the game but were repeatedly denied by an inspired performance from goalkeeper Andriy Lunin, who produced several key saves to preserve Madrid’s advantage.
However, in stoppage time, the hosts finally broke through. A defensive lapse allowed Héctor Bellerín to capitalise and score the equaliser, after Ferland Mendy lost possession in a crucial moment.
The result further dents Madrid’s hopes of silverware this season. With their Champions League campaign already over, the team now faces the real possibility of finishing the season without a major trophy for the fifth time this century.
Madrid had briefly revived their title challenge after defeating Alavés to cut the gap to six points, but Barcelona quickly restored their advantage with a win over Celta Vigo.
Draws have proven costly for Madrid this season, with this latest result marking another missed opportunity in a campaign where consistency has eluded them. Pressure is now mounting on the management as the title race slips further away.
Madrid’s next fixture is against Espanyol, followed by a crucial El Clásico clash at Barcelona’s home ground. However, their title hopes now depend not only on winning all remaining matches but also on Barcelona dropping points — a scenario that appears increasingly unlikely.
