Hector Bellerin scored deep into stoppage time to give Real Betis a 1-1 draw against Real Madrid on Friday, dealing another blow to Alvaro Arbeloa’s slim La Liga title hopes with five games to go.
With a match to go, Barcelona leads the standings with 82 points, eight points ahead of second-place Real Madrid. Barcelona faces Getafe on Saturday and could extend its lead to 11 points.
Real looked on course for a narrow victory after taking the lead in the 17th minute. Federico Valverde let loose from outside the penalty area and Betis goalkeeper Alvaro Valles could only parry the ball into the path of Vinicius Jr, who reacted quickly to guide a neat finish just inside the right post.
Jude Bellingham almost made it 2-0 shortly afterwards, but Betis gradually grew into the match and started to threaten. Andriy Lunin kept the visitors ahead before half-time with three sharp saves to deny Cedric Bakambu and two more to thwart Antony.
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Real regained control after the break but were wasteful. Kylian Mbappé had a frustrating evening. He shot over from a pass from Trent Alexander-Arnold and later saw a goal disallowed for offside after the England full-back scored from the right.
Lunin continued to shine, producing a stunning one-handed save to deny Cucho Hernandez in the 65th minute and another fine stop from Natan nine minutes later. Vinicius also squandered a golden opportunity after a brilliant run from the left as Real failed to put the game out of reach.
It paid the price in the 93rd minute. Ferland Mendy lost possession to Antony in the penalty area, causing panic in Real’s defense. The ball broke kindly for Bellerin, who drove through a forest of legs into the net with a low effort.
«In situations like this there’s not much to think about. I’m not someone who shoots from distance; I look for the cross. In the middle of all the legs it went in,» Bellerin said. DAZN.
«I think we were in control for most of the game and deserved more than just a point. Not getting the win feels unfair to me. They are a brilliant team but we had enough shots on target and the goalkeeper saved them all. We are happy because it is a good result.»
Real had to think about a draw that left them needing near perfection – and several favors elsewhere – to prevent Barcelona from securing back-to-back titles when the old rivals face each other in El Clasico at the Camp Nou on May 10.
Published on April 25, 2026
