Former Barcelona star Hector Bellerin scored Betis’ stoppage-time equalizer to stop Real Madrid from closing the gap in the La Liga title race.
Published April 24, 2026
Former Barcelona defender Hector Bellerin rewarded his old club in the Spanish title race by snatching a late point from Real Betis in their 1-1 La Liga draw with Real Madrid.
Álvaro Arbeloa’s Madrid looked set to close Barça’s lead on Friday, but the Catalans are provisionally eight points ahead of Madrid after Bellerin canceled out Vinicius Junior’s opener.
Recommended stories
list of 4 itemsend of list
Hansi Flick’s defending champions, who lost injured teenage winger Lamine Yamal, visit Getafe on Saturday and have the chance to extend their lead over Los Blancos to 11 points with a win.
Vinicius’ 17th-minute goal seemed to give his team victory and boost their slim chance of overturning the lead and ending the season with a trophy.
However, Madrid faltered in stoppage time as Bellerin finally provided the breakthrough the team’s performance deserved.
The hosts, fifth-placed Betis, called for a penalty on Brahim Dias early on in vain after the Madrid midfielder appeared to touch the ball inside his own box in an attempt to control it.
A few minutes later, Betis goalkeeper Alvaro Vallés could only force a Federico Valverde shot into the path of Vinicius, giving the away team the lead.
England international Jude Bellingham almost doubled Madrid’s advantage, but Burress did well to reverse the onslaught.
Real Betis gained a foothold into the game, with Madrid bringing on goalkeeper Andriy Lunin in place of the injured Thibaut Courtois to thank for taking the lead at half-time.
Lunin pushed Anthony’s low shot close to the post, again denying the Brazilian winger who had just thwarted Cedric Bakambu as he raced across goal.
As Betis pushed Madrid in, Alvaro Fidalgo was also unable to find a breakthrough, but unfortunately he slammed home.
On a quiet night for the league’s top scorer, Madrid striker Kylian Mbappé brilliantly parried Trent Alexander-Arnold’s cross early in the second half, but his goal was chalked off for offside.
Lunin was soon Madrid’s hero again, as he forced in Cucho Hernández’s powerful shot and defender Dean Huisen successfully blocked Anthony’s attack.
The former Manchester United winger was Betis’ biggest threat and said that although he was not penalized, he crashed onto the deck inside the area in the closing minutes and was blocked by the arms of Ferland Mendy.
Madrid forward Mbappe appeared to request being substituted with 10 minutes remaining, raising concerns over the French striker’s possible injury ahead of the World Cup.
After Antonio Rudiger blocked a cross, Real Betis snatched a point in the closing stages when Bellerin hit the ball home in the box at the right time.
