LaLiga: Real Madrid Drop Points as Late Betis Goal Cuts Title Gap to Eight

Real Betis points behind Barcelona with a game in hand.

Real Betis are now unbeaten in four straight home league H2Hs vs Real Madrid after Bellerin’s 94th-minute equalizer. Vinícius Junior’s early goal wasn’t enough for Los Blancos.

Vinicius Junior goal cancelled out as Betis snatch last-gasp draw against Real Madrid...

Real Madrid cut the gap to leaders Barcelona to eight points, but Vinicius Junior’s opener was cancelled out in stoppage time as Real Betis fought back for a 1-1 draw. Betis are now unbeaten in four straight home league H2Hs against Madrid.

 

After netting the winner in Tuesday’s victory over Alaves, Vinicius Junior needed less than 20 minutes to break the deadlock at Betis’ temporary La Cartuja home.

The Brazilian tapped in an inviting rebound after Alvaro Valles parried Federico Valverde’s driven strike from distance. The hosts were stunned by Vinicius’ 13th league goal of the season and barely troubled Madrid.

That was the case until Betis suddenly came to life late in the first half. Standing in for the injured Thibaut Courtois, Andriy Lunin made three key saves in quick succession, including two sharp stops to deny Antony.

Reminded how fragile their lead was, Real Madrid thought they had doubled it when Kylian Mbappe volleyed in Trent Alexander-Arnold’s clipped cross.

But the assistant’s flag went up and VAR confirmed Mbappe was offside, denying him a goal on his 100th competitive appearance for Los Blancos.

With Madrid still within reach, Manuel Pellegrini’s side nearly equalized through halftime substitute Cucho Hernández, whose half-volley forced a fingertip save from the alert Lunin.

At the other end, Lunin’s opposite number Valles was called into action to deny Mbappé and Valverde and keep his side in the hunt for a point.

🏁 FT: @RealBetis_en 1-1 @RealMadridEN
⚽ 17' @ViniJr
⚽ 90'+4' Bellerín
👉 @Emirates pic.twitter.com/80z02v2w2L

— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) April 24, 2026

Those saves proved crucial when Héctor Bellerín grabbed a dramatic equaliser in the fourth minute of stoppage time. The former Arsenal man pounced on a loose ball in the box and slotted a composed finish inside the near post, extending Real Madrid’s wait for a LaLiga clean sheet to 10 matches.

 

Bellerin’s second goal of the season keeps fifth-placed Betis six points clear of the chasing pack. The result also gives Barcelona a chance to extend their lead over Los Blancos to 11 points.