Real Madrid took the lead through Vinícius Júnior early against Real Betis at Seville's La Cartuja stadium, but Héctor Bellerín equalized in the 94th minute for a 1-1 draw. The whites dominated the first half-hour but faded, now trailing Barcelona by eight points with the Catalans having a game in hand. Andriy Lunin made crucial saves.
Real Madrid, coached by Álvaro Arbeloa, started intensely at La Cartuja in the first 30 minutes. In the 17th minute, after Adrián Valles parried Federico Valverde's shot, Vinícius Júnior scored the 0-1. Kylian Mbappé and Jude Bellingham created danger, with Thiago Pitarch and Valverde shining in midfield.
Betis, led by Manuel Pellegrini, responded and pressed late in the first half. Andriy Lunin starred with saves against Antony in the 44th, Bakambu, and Antony again. In the second half, Mbappé's goal was disallowed for offside in the 54th. Madrid disconnected, and Betis took control with substitutions like Roca, El Cucho, Lo Celso, and Isco, absent for five months.
Pellegrini threw on all his attacking options, and Héctor Bellerín sealed the 1-1 in the 94th, sparking joy among Betis fans. Mbappé left injured, possibly hobbled. Arbeloa kept Trent Alexander-Arnold at right-back, benching Carvajal, and started Pitarch.
The draw leaves Madrid out of the LaLiga title race, eight points behind the leaders. Betis ends a seven-game winless streak.
