Ronaldo’s return ends in agony as Real lose
LA LIGA Madrid’s poor home run this season continues as Betis score stoppagetime winner
MADRID: Antonio Sanabria struck deep into stoppage time to hand Real Betis a shock 1-0 win away over Real Madrid as the European champions failed to score for the first time in 74 matches.
Defeat leaves Real already seven points adrift of leaders Barca just five games into their defence of La Liga having failed to win in all three home games this season.
Even the presence of Cristiano Ronaldo on his return from a five-match domestic ban couldn’t break Betis’ resistance as former Real goalkeeper Antonio Adan produced stunning saves from Isco, Toni Kroos and Gareth Bale. And Betis snatched all three points in the 93rd minute when Sanabria powered home a header from Antonio Barragan’s cross.
The 74-match run is the highest in Europe. Bayern Munich had a run of 61 matches in which they scored.
It is the first time Betis have won at the Bernabeu since 1998.
“It is impossible to win here without suffering,” said Betis boss Quique Setien.
To win against a team like this, your goalie has to have a spectacular game and you need luck.” Ronaldo was recalled among three changes to the side from Sunday’s 3-1 win at Sociedad. WE NEED TO STAY CALM, SAYS COACH ZIDANE MADRID: Zinedine Zidane lamented Real Madrid’s home woes. Wednesday’s result means Real are without a win in their three league games at the Bernabeu this season, having also drawn with Valencia and Levante. “The ball just didn’t want to go in for us,” Zidane told reporters. “If you score one chance its a totally different game, but when it doesn’t want to go in, results like this can happen. We need to remain calm, but its just two points from nine at home. I feel for the players, the effort they’ve put in.”