Real Betis 2-1 Real Madrid: Player ratings as Isco returns to haunt Los Blancos

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·1 de marzo de 2025

Real Betis 2-1 Real Madrid: Player ratings as Isco returns to haunt Los Blancos

Isco inspired Real Betis to a 2-1 victory at home to his former employers Real Madrid in a cathartic and potentially decisive win on Saturday evening.

Much was made of Vinicius Junior's inclusion as the prolific winger made his 300th appearance for Madrid but it was a player with 353 matches in the capital club's colours who proved to be the difference at the Benito Villamarin.

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Brahim Diaz gave the visitors a tenth-minute lead. Kylian Mbappe wriggled away from a green-and-white-striped square surround him on the edge of box to tee up Ferland Mendy from close range. The advancing left-back's effort was smothered by Adrian only for Diaz to tap in the rebound.

Isco has picked up precisely from where he left off after missing the first four months of the season with a broken leg. Fresh from a brace against Getafe last weekend, the five-time Champions League winner whipped in a devilish corner which Johnny Cardoso rose to head through Thibaut Courtois' weak wrist.

Isco was not done haunting his former employers. The bandy-legged playmaker sent Betis' prodigious young forward Jesus Rodriguez spearing through the gaping whole which had emerged in the middle of Madrid's defence within ten minutes of the restart. Antonio Rudiger clumsily hauled the Spaniard down, gifting Betis a penalty which Isco coolly converted.

Madrid could not (and rarely looked like they would) find a winner. Defeat leaves Carlo Ancelotti's side second behind Barcelona but the Catalans - as well as third-placed Atletico Madrid - are both yet to play this weekend.