Real Betis ended Real Madrid's perfect start to the La Liga season with a 1-0 victory at La Cartuja stadium in Seville on Friday, as Irish striker Troy Parrott scored his first goal for the club and Kylian Mbappé missed a crucial late penalty. The result ends José Mourinho's winning run since returning for a second spell in charge of Madrid, who had taken maximum points from their opening three league matches.
Madrid dominated large stretches of the game and struck the woodwork three times, with Vinicius Junior hitting the post from Arda Güler's pass in the first half, and Dean Huijsen heading against the crossbar. Mbappé was twice denied by determined blocks from defenders Natan Bernardo de Souza and Marc Bartra, while Dutch international Denzel Dumfries started in midfield but was substituted after just over an hour without convincing. Mourinho turned to his bench, bringing on Bernardo Silva and Yan Diomandé in search of a breakthrough that never came.
Betis, who had shown little attacking threat for most of the match, seized the lead nine minutes from time in unexpected fashion. Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois produced a fine save to deny Nelson Deossa's header, but substitute Parrott pounced on the rebound to fire home. Madrid thought they had equalised when Carlos Espí converted acrobatically from a Vinicius cross, only for the goal to be ruled out for offside in the build-up. Mbappé then struck the crossbar with a delicate effort before earning what appeared to be a golden opportunity to level from the penalty spot, after Natan brought down Vinicius. However, Betis goalkeeper Álvaro Vallés saved Mbappé's kick to seal a memorable win.
The victory lifts Betis level with Real Madrid on nine points from four matches. The Seville-based club — founded in 1907 and one of Spain's most storied provincial sides — are preparing for only their second-ever Champions League campaign, with a group stage fixture against Feyenoord on 21 October on the horizon. For Madrid and Mourinho, the defeat is a first stumble in what had been a composed return to La Liga dominance, and will sharpen attention on how the team responds in the weeks ahead.