Real Madrid’s night against Real Betis was far more than an ordinary defeat, with everything appearing to be heading in a completely different direction before the final moments. José Mourinho’s team dominated possession and created chances, but the ending produced a dramatic twist that changed the entire story and sparked controversy around what happened in Seville.
As Real Madrid searched for a way back into the game late on, an opportunity appeared that seemed capable of rescuing the team from its first setback of the season. What followed, however, left Mourinho himself unable to provide a clear explanation, particularly after several decisive moments unfolded before the final whistle.
Real Madrid lost 1-0 to Real Betis on Friday in LaLiga, suffering their first defeat since José Mourinho returned to take charge of the Spanish giants. Madrid had opened the campaign with three consecutive victories under the Portuguese manager.
Real Betis took the lead in the 81st minute through substitute Troy Parrott, who reacted quickest after Thibaut Courtois saved a header and finished the rebound to give the hosts a crucial advantage late in the match.
Real Madrid continued pushing for an equalizer and appeared to have found it when Carlos Espí scored a spectacular goal. However, the effort was ruled out for offside, setting up an increasingly dramatic finish.
Deep into stoppage time, Real Madrid were awarded a penalty after Vinícius Júnior was fouled. Kylian Mbappé stepped up from the spot with the opportunity to rescue a point, but Real Betis goalkeeper Álvaro Valles saved his effort and preserved the home side’s lead.
The penalty decision created another layer of controversy, with Real Madrid arguing that the spot kick should have been retaken because Betis defender Marc Bartra appeared to have entered the penalty area before Mbappé struck the ball.
When Mourinho was asked about the penalty and Espí’s disallowed goal, he said he had not watched the incidents back after the match and therefore did not want to make a definitive judgment on the decisions. He added that he could change his opinion after watching the game again.
The most striking part of Mourinho’s reaction, however, was his assessment of Real Madrid’s performance. The Portuguese coach said he could not explain the defeat, insisting that Madrid had been dominant, focused, aggressive in attack and had created numerous opportunities.
The match statistics highlighted the contradiction. Real Madrid finished with eight shots on target and an expected goals figure of 3.16, yet left Seville without scoring and without taking a single point.
It was the first time since the 2014-15 season that Real Madrid had lost one of their opening four league matches, leaving them with nine points after four rounds.
Mourinho also discussed the mental side of the contest, describing his players as “naive” when it came to influencing the referee, while suggesting that Betis players were more experienced at using those moments to their advantage.
Despite the defeat, Mourinho defended his players and said he had no individual criticism for them, maintaining that the team had produced a performance worthy of a better result. At the same time, he acknowledged that deserving victory does not automatically guarantee points.
The defeat puts Real Madrid under early pressure in the LaLiga title race, particularly because Barcelona now have the opportunity to move three points clear of their rivals if they beat Valencia on Sunday.
A night in which Real Madrid hoped to maintain their perfect start instead became the first defeat of Mourinho’s new era, with several decisive moments combining to produce a stunning conclusion: a late Betis goal, a disallowed Real Madrid equalizer and finally Mbappé’s missed penalty that kept all three points in Seville.
🗣️مورينهو:
لاعبو ريال مدريد يلعبون بحسن نية. في اللقطة الأولى من المباراة، كانت هناك بطاقة صفراء واضحة للاعب سدد ركلة لفالفيردي ثم تم التغاضي عن بطاقة صفراء أخرى بسبب خطأ على فيني وبعد ذلك، وبسبب خطأ بسيط يمنح أردا بطاقة صفراء
— ZidaneModric10 (@said_modric10) September 4, 2026