SEVILLE (Spain) — Former Barcelona defender Hector Bellerin snatched Real Betis a late point in a 1-1 La Liga draw against Real Madrid to do his former side a favour in the Spanish title race.
Alvaro Arbeloa’s Madrid seemed set to chop down Barca’s lead but the Catalans sit provisionally eight points ahead of Madrid after Bellerin cancelled out Vinicius Junior’s opener, AFP reported.
Hansi Flick’s defending champions, shorn of injured teenage winger Lamine Yamal, visit Getafe on Saturday and now have the chance to move 11 points clear of Los Blancos with a victory.
Vinicius’s 17th-minute strike seemed set to bring his team victory and boost their slim chances of overhauling the leaders and finishing the season with a trophy.
However, Madrid were rocked in stoppage time as Bellerin finally provided the breakthrough his side’s performance had deserved.
“We suffered another blow in the final minutes, as has already happened to us many other times, and we end up with a result I don’t think we deserved, because we had chances (to win),” Arbeloa told reporters.
The Madrid coach complained about refereeing decisions which “heavily influenced the game”, although Betis arguably had the more legitimate grievances.
The hosts, fifth, appealed in vain for a penalty against Brahim Diaz early on, after the Madrid midfielder appeared to touch the ball with his hand in his own box as he tried to control it.
A few minutes later the visitors took the lead, when Betis goalkeeper Alvaro Valles could only push Federico Valverde’s drive back into Vinicius’s path and the Brazilian swept home.
England international Jude Bellingham almost doubled Madrid’s advantage but Valles did well to tip over his fierce effort.
Betis earned a foothold in the game and Madrid had their goalkeeper Andriy Lunin, playing in place of the injured Thibaut Courtois, to thank for getting them in ahead at half-time.
Lunin pushed Antony’s low strike around the post and then denied the Brazilian winger again, having just thwarted Cedric Bakambu as he ran through on goal.
Alvaro Fidalgo also lashed narrowly over as Betis pushed Madrid back, albeit without finding a way through.
