Real Madrid's La Liga Title Hopes Dented After Loss to Real Betis

Image credits: CBS Sports

Real Madrid's chances of winning the La Liga title have taken a hit after they suffered a 2-1 defeat to Real Betis at the Benito Villamarin. The match started well for Real Madrid, with Kylian Mbappe playing a key role in the opening goal, which was scored by Brahim Diaz after just 10 minutes. However, Real Betis were the better team for the majority of the match, and they got a deserved equalizer just before half time through Johnny Cardoso's header from an Isco corner.

The second half was more of the same, with Real Betis dominating possession and creating more scoring opportunities. They were rewarded with a penalty in the 54th minute, which Isco converted to give his team the lead. Real Betis had 18 shots during the match, compared to just eight for Real Madrid, and they could have scored more if not for some wasteful finishing. Cucho Hernandez missed a great chance to score Betis' third goal, but it didn't matter in the end as Manuel Pellegrini's team held on for a crucial win.

The result means that Real Madrid stay in second place in the La Liga table, and they could drop to third if Atletico Madrid defeat Athletic Club on Saturday. They could also be three points behind Barcelona if the Catalans defeat Real Sociedad on Sunday. The loss is a setback for Real Madrid, but they will not be too concerned as they have a challenging Champions League match against Atletico Madrid coming up on Tuesday. Carlo Ancelotti may rotate his team for that match, with several players who started against Real Betis potentially being left out.

Here are the match scores:

• Real Madrid 1
• Real Betis 2

The win was a significant one for Real Betis, with Johnny Cardoso scoring his first goal of the season and Isco continuing to impress with his performances. Isco now has six goals and three assists in 15 appearances for Betis in all competitions, and he could play a key role in their push for a Europa Conference League title.

The La Liga table is still tightly packed, with several teams in contention for the title. The top teams are:

1. Barcelona
2. Real Madrid
3. Atletico Madrid

Real Madrid will need to bounce back from this defeat if they are to stay in the title race, but they have the quality and depth to do so. They will be looking to get back to winning ways as soon as possible, starting with their Champions League match against Atletico Madrid on Tuesday.

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