Real Madrid suffered their first defeat of the 2026/27 LaLiga campaign on Friday night, falling 1-0 to Real Betis in a dramatic encounter that once again placed refereeing and VAR decisions under the spotlight.
The result was painful enough for Madrid supporters, but the manner of the defeat made it even harder to swallow. Carlo? No, this time it was José Mourinho’s Madrid side that walked away from La Cartuja empty-handed after Betis produced a late winner through Troy Parrott in the 81st minute.
Yet the biggest talking points did not end with Betis’ goal.
Madrid believed they had found an equaliser when Carlos Espí produced a spectacular bicycle-kick finish, only for the goal to be ruled out following a VAR review for an earlier offside in the build-up. It was another agonising moment in a match where every major incident seemed to generate another layer of controversy.
Then came the moment that sent Madrid fans into another frenzy.
Deep into stoppage time, Vinicius Junior was brought down inside the penalty area and Madrid were awarded a potentially match-saving penalty. Kylian Mbappé stepped forward with the weight of the Bernabéu and Madrid supporters around the world seemingly on his shoulders.
But Álvaro Valles stood tall.
The Betis goalkeeper guessed correctly and stopped Mbappé’s penalty, preserving Betis’ 1-0 advantage and sending Madrid home without a point.
However, the controversy did not disappear with the final whistle.
Attention immediately turned toward Marc Bartra’s position during the penalty. Real Madrid TV questioned whether the spot-kick should have been retaken because of an apparent encroachment, while further analysis examined exactly where Bartra’s feet were positioned when Mbappé struck the ball.
The explanation from the refereeing authorities was that the encroachment did not meet the threshold required for the penalty to be retaken. Bartra’s positioning was scrutinised for several minutes before the decision was allowed to stand.
For Madrid, though, the damage was already done.
The defeat ended a perfect opening run that had seen the team collect maximum points from their first three league matches. Madrid had previously beaten Málaga 4-0 and entered the Betis clash looking to maintain their early momentum.
Instead, Betis delivered the first major reality check of Mourinho’s latest Madrid chapter.
There is no denying that Real Madrid created opportunities. Mbappé hit the crossbar, Espí had his goal cancelled, and the visitors had the chance to rescue something from the penalty spot. But Betis defended with enormous determination and eventually found the decisive breakthrough through Parrott after Courtois had initially kept out a header.
That makes the defeat even more frustrating for Madrid.
VAR may have dominated the conversation, but Madrid will also know that their own missed opportunities played a huge part in the outcome. When a team creates chances against a stubborn opponent and fails to convert them, one controversial decision can suddenly feel even more devastating.
The debate surrounding the officials will continue, particularly after the disallowed Espí goal and the dramatic penalty sequence.
But one thing is certain: Real Madrid have been handed their first warning of the season.
The perfect start is gone. The unbeaten run is over. And suddenly, the pressure is back on.
For Betis, it was a night of resilience and a statement victory.
For Madrid, it was a night when VAR, missed chances, a missed penalty and a late goal combined to produce a result that will leave supporters furious long after the final whistle.
