Kylian Mbappé showcased his class once again, netting twice to lead Real Madrid to a 2-0 victory against Real Betis, extending their unbeaten run in La Liga to an impressive 36 matches. While the result keeps Los Blancos comfortably near the top of the league standings, the performance suggests there is still room for improvement as they aim to reach their peak form.
Real Betis, fresh off their qualification for the UEFA Conference League group stage, started the game with intent, creating the first major opportunity of the match. Romain Perraud, a summer signing, delivered a dangerous cross into the box, where Abde Ezzalzouli, formerly of Barcelona’s academy, met it with a header that sailed just over the crossbar. It was a clear warning to Real Madrid that Betis would not be easily subdued.
Real Madrid quickly responded, showing their threat from set pieces. Éder Militão rose above the Betis defense to connect with a corner delivered by Rodrygo, forcing a sharp save from Betis goalkeeper Rui Silva. Perraud was on hand to clear the rebound, preventing an early goal for the hosts.
Despite enjoying the lion’s share of possession, Real Madrid struggled to break down a resilient Betis defense in the first half. The connection between Vinícius Júnior and Kylian Mbappé, which has shown so much promise, nearly produced a moment of magic. Vinícius slipped a perfectly timed through ball to Mbappé, who was inches away from converting what would have been a spectacular goal. However, the Frenchman was denied by a crucial interception. Just before the halftime whistle, Mbappé found himself in a promising position once again, this time from a Dani Carvajal cross, but a last-ditch tackle by Youssouf Sabaly kept the scoreline level.
The second half began with both teams making adjustments, though neither side made immediate substitutions. Betis manager Manuel Pellegrini eventually introduced Johnny Cardoso and handed a debut to Vitor Roque. The latter quickly made his presence felt, connecting with a cross from Sabaly that required a strong save from Thibaut Courtois. Meanwhile, Betis defender Diego Llorente was having an outstanding game, repeatedly thwarting Real Madrid’s attempts to break through, contributing to what had become an intense, end-to-end encounter.
However, Real Madrid’s persistence finally paid off in the 67th minute. Federico Valverde, displaying his usual creativity, flicked the ball into Mbappé’s path. The French superstar did not miss this time, calmly slotting the ball into the net to break the deadlock, sending the Santiago Bernabéu crowd into raptures. It was a well-deserved goal for Mbappé, who had been a constant threat throughout the match.
Vinícius Júnior, who had been visibly frustrated after hitting the post earlier and expressing his displeasure with several refereeing decisions, finally got his chance to make a decisive impact. A VAR review confirmed that he had been fouled by Betis goalkeeper Rui Silva inside the box, resulting in a penalty. Mbappé stepped up confidently and converted the spot-kick, doubling Real Madrid’s lead and effectively securing the victory.
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Despite the 2-0 win, it was clear that Real Madrid are still working towards finding their best form. Their performances have been solid but not yet at the level expected of a team with their ambitions. Nonetheless, they head into the international break in second place, trailing Barcelona by four points.
Real Betis, on the other hand, find themselves hovering just above the relegation zone. While the result was disappointing, they can take solace in having a game in hand over most of their rivals, which could prove crucial as the season progresses.
For Real Madrid, the international break provides an opportunity to regroup and work on fine-tuning their game, while Betis will be looking to use their extra fixture to climb the table and distance themselves from the relegation battle. As the season advances, both teams will be eager to prove their mettle, with Real Madrid striving for the league title and Betis aiming to secure a comfortable mid-table finish.
