Real Madrid travelled to Real Betis on Saturday looking for the three points to stay in touching distance with La Liga leaders Barcelona.
It was Betis that took the lead after 17 minutes, however, when Benat converted from outside the box and despite Madrid pressure, the home side led at the interval.
Madrid continued to press in the second period, but Betis held on to secure a remarkable three points.
Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole's minute-by minute live commentary below.
Evening all! Our Saturday of La Liga action is completed as Real Madrid travel to Seville to face a stubborn Real Betis outfit in the league. Betis have won just three of their last nine matches in all competitions, while Madrid have won their last five La Liga matches.
Teams:
Real Betis: Adri; Amaya, Dorado, Martinez, Angel; Benat, Sevilla, Carlos, Canas; Agra, Castro
Real Madrid: Casillas; Arbeloa, Pepe, Ramos, Coentrao; Khedira, Alonso, Ozil; Ronaldo, Benzema, Di Maria
Madrid are also unbeaten in their last eight in the league and have conceded just nine goals this season, the joint-best record in La Liga. They also booked their spot in the knockout stages of the Champions League this week and will therefore enter the match full of confidence.
Here we go then. Both sets of players join us on the pitch ahead of kickoff. I am backing a Real Madrid win this evening, but Real Betis are certainly no pushovers.
Betis kick us off on this mild evening in Spain. You just get the feeling that the home side need to start this match well in order to stand a chance of gaining a result. Stay with us for the 90 minutes of action.
And indeed Betis do start the match with confidence as Jose Canas whips a searching ball into the penalty area, but Sergio Ramos climbs highest to clear the danger. The home supporters are in good voice this evening.
Madrid have now taken control of the possession, however, with Mesut Ozil and Xabi Alonso exchanging quick snappy passes in midfield. The away side also have a striker that is bang in form in the shape of Karim Benzema.
First attempt of the match comes from Cristiano Ronaldo as he strikes an effort from outside the box, but it was always moving high of the crossbar. It is simply all Madrid at the moment.
Another half-chance comes the way of Madrid as Ozil finds the run of Ronaldo inside the box, but the attacker is denied by a fine save from Adri. Meanwhile, the resulting corner is scrambled clear following pinball inside the penalty area.
Betis are playing into Madrid's hands at the moment as they continue to push their wingers forward at every opportunity. It is leaving space for Ozil & Co and Khedira fires a powerful effort over the crossbar from close range.
The away side continue to control the tempo of the match as Alonso sprays possession around the Betis half. Meanwhile, Pepe and Sergio Ramos have dealt comfortably with the threat posed by Ruben Castro and Salvador Agra.
Betis continue to search out their front pair with a series of long passes, but the Madrid defence are ever so comfortable in dealing with the danger. It is difficult to see how Betis can get a result playing as they are currently.
That said, the longer it remains 0-0 the more chance Betis have of stealing something. We have not seen much from Benzema or Di Maria for Madrid thus far. But there is still plenty of time to make their mark.
GOAL! Real Betis 1-0 Real Madrid (Benat)
What was I saying? It is Betis who take the lead against the run of play as Benat fires a powerful effort into the bottom corner.
Well that is some turn up. Betis have simply not been in this match in the opening 18 minutes but they lead the current Spanish champions. Now it is up to Madrid to respond. It is good for the neutral.
Madrid attempt to respond immediately as Ozil searches out the run of Ronaldo in the box, but the attacker cannot make contact and Adri collects the danger. Jose Mourinho does not look a happy man on the sidelines.
Madrid continue to push for the equaliser as Benzema floats a high cross into the penalty area, but Ronaldo is beaten to the header by Dorado. Meanwhile, Castro tests the palms of Casillas down the other end.
Another half-chance comes the way of Madrid as Ozil finds Benzema in the penalty area, but the Frenchman cannot collect. However, Betis prepare themselves for the next wave of pressure. Have they scored too early?!
It is all one-way traffic at the moment as Alonso curls a free kick into the penalty area, but Alex Martinez rises to clear the danger. Meanwhile, the resulting corner is also cleared. But Betis simply cannot get out.
Rare attack from Betis as they force a corner from Di Maria, but Benat's corner is headed wide by Antonio Amaya. Meanwhile, Mourinho has sent two substitutes to warm up. He is clearly not happy with what he has seen thus far.
CHANCE! Madrid come close to levelling as Coentrao finds Di Maria at the back post, but the Argentine can only hit the outside of the post. The resulting corner is once more cleared by a stubborn Betis defence.
CHANCE! Madrid continue to force the issue as Benzema finds Di Maria on the outside of the box, but the Argentine somehow lifts his effort onto the top of the crossbar. How has he not scored?! Incredible.
You just get the feeling that Betis need to hold onto their lead until half time if they are to get something from this match. A goal for Madrid within the next 10 minutes creates an entirely different second period.
The Madrid frustration continues as Ozil attempts to find the run of Benzema in the penalty area, but Adri is quick off his line to gather. Betis are defending so deep and there are no gaps in behind.
Madrid have the ball in the back of the net as Ronaldo converts from close range, but the Portuguese was in an offside position. But the next attack is quickly upon Betis as they struggle to keep hold of possession.
Little over five minutes of the half remaining and Betis still lead from that Benat strike. A rare attack nearly brings the second, but Ramos blocks Castro's close-range effort.
Madrid continue to pass and probe in the Betis half, but there is no real conviction at the moment as the home side clear the danger with ease. Oh to be a fly on the wall in the Madrid dressing room at the interval.
Another half-chance comes the way of Madrid as Ozil finds the run of Di Maria, but once more the Argentine is wasteful and the danger is cleared. Betis will be delighted by their first-half performance thus far.
Meanwhile, the fourth official indicates that we will play an additional one minute at the end of the half.
Real Betis 1-0 Real Madrid
So there we have it. A first-half strike from Benat hands Betis a 1-0 lead over Madrid at the interval. Did anyone see this coming? The second period looks set to be a cracker.
Let's take a look at some statistics from the opening half of football. Madrid have dominated possession with 65%, while they have managed five shots to Betis' four. But the only stat that matters sees the home side lead at the break.
Unfortunately for Madrid they are in a position where they simply have to win every single match. Barcelona's form shows no sign of wavering and they already sit eight points behind. But you would expect a response in the second period.
I would expect to see Luka Modric and Kaka in the second period for Madrid should they not find a way back into the match. For Betis, they will attempt to hold onto what they have. The next goal could ultimately decide the result.
Here we go then. The Madrid players were sent out early with Mourinho a glum figure on the bench. Two changes for the away side as Kaka and Modric replace Ozil and Khedira.
Would it be fair to say that this is the biggest 45 minutes of Madrid's season thus far? They simply cannot afford to lose this match. They have started on the attack with Benzema firing an effort over the crossbar from outside the box.
Madrid continue to force the issue as Juan Carlos fells Di Maria outside the penalty area. However, Ronaldo's effort is straight into the wall. Not one of his best. But the pressure remains.
Betis' attacking threat has been non-existent since they took the lead. But they continue to defend well as Madrid force corner after corner. Surely one of them has to be bundled in?
Madrid continue to pass and probe around the edge of the Betis half, but two offside decisions in quick succession break up their attack.
Madrid have the ball in the back of the net once more as Benzema races onto a pass from Modric, but the Frenchman is ruled offside much to his frustration. Still Betis lead.
Rare chance for Betis as Pepe fells Salva Sevilla just outside the penalty area, but Agra's free kick is just over the crossbar. Little over 30 minutes of football to play.
Adri continues to impress for Betis as he gathers two corners in quicj succession. But you suspect that he will have a lot more to do in the remaining minutes. But Betis have just started to put together a spell of possession.
CHANCE! Oh my word. Wonderful chance for Madrid to level as Ronaldo fires a low cross into the area, but Dorado just beats Benzema to the ball. That is defending of the highest order. He has prevented a certain goal there.
Madrid have just tuned up the heat a couple more notches as Adri is tested twice by Kaka in the matter of seconds, but the goalkeeper passes the test with flying colours. How good has he been this evening?! He has had to be.
Another change for the away side as Jose Callejon replaces Di Maria. The Argentine has been poor this evening. Meanwhile, Juan Carlos is replaced by Jorge Molina for Betis.
For all the Madrid possession, you cannot really say that Betis are under constant pressure here. They have defended well, but have been given the chance to make clearances. Madrid have 25 minutes to stay in the title race.
The pressure remains from Madrid as Jose Mourinho's side continue to pass and probe outside the Betis penalty area. But Alex Martinez has marshalled his defence thus far.
Mourinho does not look a happy man on the sidelines as his side continue to huff and puff. The threat from Betis has been non-existent but it has not needed to be. This would be a famous, famous result in Spain.
Betis are living on the edge at the moment as they give away a couple of free kicks outside their penalty area. However, Alonso and Ronaldo have both failed in the past moments.
Half-chance for Pepe as the defender meets a searching cross from Alonso, but Adri is on hand to collect the danger. Where is the Madrid response? It has been nowhere near what was expected to transpire.
Change for Betis as Angel Lopez is replaced by Nacho Perez. Meanwhile, Madrid come close once more via Ramos, but he heads wide from a tight angle.
Betis continue to stand strong in defence as Benzema fires a low cross into the penalty area, but Martinez clears the danger. Meanwhile, Kaka's cross is floated over the crossbar. Little over 10 minutes of football remaining.
Betis attempt to run down the clock as Ruben Castro keeps possession in the corner, but Ramos is across to clear the danger and Madrid launch another attack. Meanwhile, another change for Betis as Sevilla is replaced by Nosa.
Madrid gain another free kick outside the penalty area as Dorado fells Benzema. Ronaldo will take. Can the Portuguese save his side when they most need it?
CHANCE! Ronaldo so nearly produces the spectacular as he strikes a powerful effort, but Adri makes a fine save. But the pressure remains.
The chances continue to come for Madrid as Ramos meet a cross in the penalty area, but once more his header is over the crossbar. This is quite incredible. The home supporters can hardly contain themselves with little over four minutes remaining.
Betis have possession of the ball with two minutes remaining. They could certainly add a second on the counter here. If Madrid are to save their league season then it has to be now.
The fourth official indicates that we will play an additional three minutes. Can Madrid score? They always score.
Madrid fire cross after cross into the penalty area, but the home supporters think their team has done enough. There is time for one last attack for the away side.
Mourinho looks on in disgust as Adri claims yet another high ball. We have little under 30 seconds of football remaining and the Betis goalkeeper has possession.
Real Betis 1-0 Real Madrid
Oh my word. Just incredible. Betis hold on to secure a 1-0 win over Real Madrid and all but end their title challenge. Thanks for joining Sports Mole for the action and join us tomorrow for more Spanish football. Until then!
Written by
Matt Law
Matt Law
