Real Betis defeated Real Madrid 1-0 in the fourth round of La Liga at Estadio La Cartuja in Seville on September 4, 2026. The decisive moment came in the 81st minute. After a corner, Troy Parrott attempted a close-range shot, and the goal stood as the winner.
Real Madrid had won their first three La Liga matches before this game, but suffered their first defeat of the season. Real Madrid, managed by José Mourinho, created attacking opportunities but could not find an equalizer. Real Betis, under manager Manuel Pellegrini, held on to their one-goal home lead.
Key Change: Parrott’s 81st-Minute Winner
The clearest outcome of the match was Real Betis’ victory and the end of Real Madrid’s winning streak. The score was 1-0, and Parrott’s goal was officially recorded as having been scored in the 81st minute. Betis preserved their lead until the final whistle to take three points, while Real Madrid failed to win for the first time since the start of the season.
Real Betis 1-0 Real Madrid. Troy Parrott scored the winning goal in the 81st minute.
The match was not decided by the winning goal alone. Real Madrid’s Carlos Espi scored in the 87th minute, but the goal was ruled offside and overturned following a VAR review. As a result, only Parrott’s goal remains in the official match result.
Current Status: Real Madrid Second, Real Betis Third
The official La Liga table showed Real Madrid in second place and Real Betis in third after the match. Both teams have three wins and one loss from four matches, giving them nine points each. The difference in the table is goal difference. Real Madrid are listed at +7, while Real Betis are listed at 0.
| Team | Position | Matches | Record | Points | Goal Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Real Madrid | 2nd | 4 | 3 wins, 1 loss | 9 | +7 |
| Real Betis | 3rd | 4 | 3 wins, 1 loss | 9 | 0 |
These were the standings shown in the official table immediately after the match. The teams are level on points, but Real Madrid rank above Betis because of their superior goal difference. The standings may change after the results of other matches.
Impact: Mbappé’s Penalty and the Retake Debate
Real Madrid were awarded a penalty in stoppage time. Kylian Mbappé took it, but Real Betis goalkeeper Álvaro Vallés saved the shot. The penalty was not retaken, leaving the decision as one of the main talking points after the match.
Whether a penalty should be retaken is not determined solely by a miss or a save. IFAB Law 14 explains that a retake is generally required when an encroachment by a defending-team player affects a missed or saved penalty, while also applying situation-specific conditions, including whether the goalkeeper’s movement clearly affected the kicker. For that reason, it is better to distinguish the save recorded in the official match record from the actual ruling rather than state definitively that the penalty had to be retaken.
Ultimately, Real Madrid could not overcome Parrott’s opening goal, Espi’s disallowed strike, or Mbappé’s saved penalty. Real Betis secured a one-goal victory, and the teams remained level on nine points while being separated in the table by goal difference.
Next Checkpoint: Champions League on September 8
Real Betis’ official schedule lists an away Champions League match against Lille on September 8, 2026, as their next fixture. After defeating Real Madrid in La Liga, Betis will move straight into European competition.
Real Madrid are scheduled to open their Champions League campaign against Inter at Santiago Bernabéu next week. The next points to monitor are Real Madrid’s response to this defeat and how the La Liga standings for both teams change after other results.
The facts confirmed so far are clear.
- Real Betis won 1-0.
- Troy Parrott scored the winning goal in the 81st minute.
- Real Madrid suffered their first defeat of the season.
- In the official standings, Real Madrid are second and Real Betis are third, with both teams on nine points.
- Mbappé’s penalty was saved by Vallés and was not retaken.
- Betis’ next fixture is away to Lille on September 8, while Real Madrid will face Inter.