Real Betis delivered an unparalleled victory to Real Madrid on March 1, 2025 by securing a 2-1 win in LaLiga confrontations at Estadio Benito Villamarín. Betis demonstrated exceptional determination and skill at the Benito Villamarín by converting Isco’s penalty kick and Johnny Cardoso’s header despite Brahim Díaz’s initial opening goal. Betis took full advantage of their limited opportunities to defeat Madrid when the host controlled most of the possession throughout the match. This notable upset left Carlo Ancelotti’s team in complete disbelief. The analysis investigates all essential elements of the Estadio Benito Villamarín LaLiga contest that dramatically influenced the championship race.
Match Recap: A Tale of Twists
Madrid’s Bright Start
Real Madrid started the match with great intensity. Betis’ midfield experienced failure in stopping Real Madrid’s advancement as the visitors secured 72% possession control during the first ten minutes of the match. The ninth-minute pass from Kylian Mbappé served as the opening vision of the game for Real Madrid. A pass from midfield by Mbappé reached Mendy on the left flank who made an advancing run then played an easy cross for Díaz to finish. At this point Madrid held 1-0 due to their initial overwhelming dominance of the game. A swift solo run by Vinícius Júnior caused Adrián the Spanish goalkeeper to stretch his body and thwart the scoring attempt.
However, Betis weathered the storm. The defensive pair of Bartra and Llorente defended strongly to stop multiple attempts from Mbappé as the Real Madrid forward tried to score additional goals. The defensive scramble described by Bartra in the 15th minute prevented Rodrygo from scoring his second goal of the match during the first fifteen minutes of the game. Supporters at the stadium intensified their cheers to uplift Betis as they fought back toward the scoreline. As Betis increased their attack play in response to Paris Saint-Germain attacking pressure Isco executed his passes across the midfield.
Isco’s Equalizer
The contest reversed direction during the 53rd minute. The start of a VAR review gave Betis an opportunity to keep playing. During play Antonio Rüdiger used his foot to strike Aitor Ruibal’s heel thus forcing referee Jesús Gil Manzano to award an important penalty kick. The retired Real Madrid player Isco found the back of the net with an effortless penalty against his previous team to tie the match at one goal each against Atlético. The eruption of the Benito Villamarín stadium brought a sincere but minimalist celebration from Isco as he scored against Real Betis where he had success in his five Champions League victories. Betis gained confidence after scoring their goal because they started to perceive an opportunity for victory.
Nevertheless, Madrid pushed back. Luka Modrić let loose his 30-yard volley but it missed the target and Mbappé caused a near-miss with his headed chance at the same time. The defensive determination of Betis allowed Adrián to block an incoming shot from Vinícius after it left his feet in the 62nd minute. Both teams fought intensely during a rapid phase of the match that left the contest in a precarious position.
Cardoso’s Decisive Blow
The decisive goal arrived for Betis during the 74th minute of the match. After taking the free-kick Isco managed to curl it from the right side where Johnny Cardoso received it behind the defense to score. American midfielder Johnny Cardoso jumped over Rüdiger on his way to successfully head a shot into the top corner as Betis took the lead 2-1. The goal revealed the weak set-piece defense of Madrid which has persisted throughout the current season. Betis claimed the lead during the match which led their fans to cheer “Sí se puede” as the game progressed toward its conclusion.
The entire Madrid side moved ahead to attack. Güler and Endrick achieved an offensive boost after entering the match as substitutes. In the late minutes of the match Güler delivered a 82nd-minute free-kick shot that Adrián blocked with a diving save and Vinícius hit the post with his attempt at 89 minutes. In a crucial final defensive move the last Mbappé shot was blocked clear by Llorente. Betis secured their victory against Madrid when the 95-minute whistle blew which resulted in their success while leaving Madrid in defeat.
Key Moments: Game-Changers
Brahim’s Early Strike
Brahim Díaz scored the first goal at the ninth minute which started the match. Through one-two passing from Mbappé to Mendy Betis defenders were able to open space which Brahim Díaz capitalized by scoring clinically. The early scorers of Madrid gained control of the match after Brahim Díaz scored the first goal in the ninth minute. The team exhibited excessive confidence following this period until Betis had time to organize themselves back into the game.
Isco’s Penalty Precision
The game fundamentally changed when Isco scored his equalizing goal in minute 53. Rüdiger made a clumsy tackle against Betis to create the scoring chance which Isco converted into a finishing strike against Madrid. This unexpected goal disturbed the confident manner Ancelotti had his team playing despite taking place while Betis was on the counterattack. Isco reached nine goal involvement this season while his performance at Betis caused great damage to his former team.
Cardoso’s Header
Then, Cardoso’s 74th-minute header clinched it. The short low cross from Isco revealed poor aerial defense from Madrid while Cardoso successfully fought off Rüdiger. The objective demonstrated Betis’ strength from set-pieces which turned out to be the player’s third goal of this competition. The goal shifted the match in an irrevocable direction so Madrid’s late remaining strength was insufficient.
Adrián’s Late Heroics
The victory was safeguarded by Adrián when he stopped a shot during the 82nd minute of the match. Güler fired a dipping shot toward the goal while Adrián used his fingertips to steal the ball off its path. Betis achieved the upset victory by stopping Madrid for the sixth time in the match at this particular stop. Llorente achieved the final victory by clearing the goal line during the stoppage period.
Player Performances: Stars and Struggles
Real Betis’ Standouts
Isco: The Maestro
Firstly, Isco orchestrated Betis’ triumph. Both artistic and emotionless Isco showed his coolness by converting a penalty that brought the score back at goal level. Through his passing performance he completed 89% of attempts while controlling the game despite facing Modrić and Tchouaméni. The way he set up Cardoso from a free-kick sectional demonstrated his understanding of the game. Isco received the Man of the Match award because Real Madrid failed to prevent him from damaging their team. The return of Isco at the Madrid stadium made Los Blancos fans uneasy because it delighted the Betis supporter base.
Johnny Cardoso: The Unsung Hero
The second important contribution came from Johnny Cardoso and his crucial goal. Guided by authority he rose above Rüdiger to win the match with a powerful header. His performance included six successful defensive duels together with four tackles which defended Betis’ defensive structure. The goal during his new season season establishes Isco as a recognized name across Europe. Cardoso establishes beyond doubt that Betis controls several talented players who excel beyond the headlines.
Adrián: The Wall
Then, Adrián anchored Betis’ resistance. His six saves successfully blocked Güler’s curler and Vinícius’ rocket while defending Madrid’s attack. Mbappé failed to score a goal during the match thanks to Adrián’s quick defensive reaction in the 25th minute. The 23 attempts made by Villa required Adrián to demonstrate his mental fortitude throughout the match. Through his 38-year-old performance he showed he could defeat all perceivers of his age.
Real Madrid’s Key Men
Brahim Díaz: The Bright Spark
Brahim Díaz delivered the solitary highlight performance of Real Madrid in the match. Brahim Díaz opened his goal tally for the season at the beginning of the match by finishing a well-composed sequence of passes to score with his ninth touch. He performed 92% of his passes through his movement between different defensive lines. The Betis midfield blockade made it difficult for Brahim Díaz to make meaningful contributions during the latter part of the match. Brahim Díaz scored the first goal at Estadio Benito Villamarin which prolonged Madrid’s fight against Betis in their opening minutes of the match.
Kylian Mbappé: Frustrated Talent
Kylian Mbappé managed to create moments of brilliance among missed scoring opportunities. This play demonstrated his unrivalled talent because he created an effective pass to Brahim as he split apart Betis defenders. Revealing his offensive abilities he attempted five strikes which resulted in knocking the bar then forcing the goalkeeper Adrián to make a defensive move. Llorente prevented him from scoring through a last-minute block while offside decisions proved bothersome for his advance movements. The match ended with Mbappé leaving the field while regretting his numerous chances but no successful finishes.
Underperformers
Antonio Rüdiger: Costly Error
The performance of Antonio Rüdiger turned out to be a disappointment during this match. When Ruibal received the foul from Mbappé in the tight position the Real Madrid defender made a foolish mistake that eventually awarded Betis with a penalty. The victor emerged from Cardoso who muscled him and revealed his weak defensive skills in the air. Rüdiger becomes responsible for the decisive errors which resulted in the game’s outcome because they proved decisive. However, his 10 clearances show fight.
Chadi Riad: Overrun
During the match against Betis Chadi Riad faced difficulties on multiple occasions. In the match Vinícius along with Rodrygo harassed him repeatedly and Vinícius succeeded in beating him three times. Before halftime Betis barely escaped danger because of an unguarded space in his defensive area. His pass accuracy reached 85% which supported team Build-Up play. Riad faces a severe wake-up call of fighting against elite competition.
Tactical Breakdown: How It Unfolded
Betis’ Compact Resilience
The coach Manuel Pellegrini started the game with a 4-2-3-1 formation along with defensive positioning. Cardoso and Altimira positioned themselves deep within the field which blocked the central passing options of Madrid. The wingers Ruibal and Antony moved inside positions to create space between themselves and Mendy and Lucas Vázquez. Betis gave up 64% of ball possession to the opposition while leaving themselves vulnerable to pressuring situations. Betis tolerated opponents’ attacking pressure because they trusted their quick counter attacks beyond dominance. Throughout the set-piece phase Isco used his left foot to shift the defensive field into an offensive advantage where Cardoso scored the winning goal.
With 11 shots and five shots on target Betis managed to find the most valuable attacking chances during their match against Real Madrid. Through their 298 accurate passes the team successfully pushed the ball forward at an 78% rate with Isco playing a key role in their execution. Betis obtained victory after Madrid’s defense momentarily weakened due to poor pressing while successfully converting their penalty and header. The defensive effort of Betis players was hidden by Adrián’s numerous saves.
Madrid’s Possession Without Punch
Ancelotti implemented a 4-3-3 formation that emphasized fluidity in his side. Modrić and Tchouaméni controlled the midfield by delivering the ball to Mbappé and Vinícius. Betis opponents remained open after the early combination play between their players allowed Brahim to score. The tactical arrangement of Betis limited their offensive threat through tight defensive patterns despite having 23 shooting attempts that only resulted in one goal. The 89% accurate 632 passes performed by Madrid during the game failed to penetrate opponents’ defenses.
The substitutes Güler and Endrick entered as replacements yet provided only attack but failed to score. The unpredictable skills of Güler challenged Llorente until Adrián successfully defended against them. The defensive stance of Betis during set-play situations made it impossible for Real Madrid to implement their aerial attack after Cardoso scored. Ancelotti’s team experienced negative consequences from poor finishing since they lost points because of it.
Managerial Reflections: Voices from the Touchline
Pellegrini’s Tactical Triumph
The manager Manuel Pellegrini acknowledged that Betis displayed extraordinary team spirit in the victory. “We achieved victory against the top team after putting in a tough battle,” Pellegrini declared to the media. During the press conference Ancelotti commended Isco’s balance between technical skill and determination while praising Adrián for his essential goal-saving abilities. Despite the early offensive power of Madrid he advised his players to tighten their defensive stance on the pitch. Pellegrini finds true satisfaction from this Betting victory which propels his team to the sixth position.
Ancelotti’s Frustration
During the match Carlo Ancelotti expressed dissatisfaction toward his team’s failed opportunities for scoring. Ancelotti expressed that we performed strong at the beginning while letting Real Madrid maintain possession after their scoring goal. We must finish better.” At that moment Ancelotti singled out Rüdiger for his transgression then commended Betis for their mental fortitude. His team will triumph despite their loss according to Ancelotti. Ancelotti will lead his team into the Madrid derby because he expects pristine focus from them.
The Atmosphere: Benito Villamarín Erupts
At the stadium 56,432 sports fans transformed the Benito Villamarín into a raging source of passion. After Isco scored his goal Betis supporters transformed the stadium into a sea of green and white while drowning out the visiting Madrid fans. A pre-match tribute to Manuel Ruiz de Lopera brought together all spectators at the stadium. Every successful save made by Adrián became a source of loud cheers that brought Betis to victory. The intense stadium environment transformed into an additional player acting as the twelfth man dressed in Betis green and white colors.
Stats Snapshot: Numbers Tell the Story
The available statistics demonstrate how Villa’s team gained dominance in the match. Betis successfully netted five shots while Madrid managed eight successful attempts from their total 23 shots. The deciding factor of the match came down to Betis’ successful six corners combined with Cardoso’s goal that defeated Madrid’s four corners. Better efficiency caused Betis to triumph over Madrid even though the visitors controlled the match with their 64% ball possession and 632 total passes compared to Betis’ 298. The duel outcome showed that Betis won 16 aerial battles while Madrid successfully completed only twelve of these events. Thus, quality trumped quantity.
What It Means: LaLiga Shakes Up
For Real Betis
For Betis, this win catapults them to 38 points, sixth in LaLiga. The victory brings an end to Madrid’s nine-game unsuccessful run against Betis which has become the club’s first since 2020. Isco’s performance (six goals combined with four assists) together with Cardoso’s recent success adds strength to their push for European competition. However, injuries to Lo Celso and Roca test depth. The victory positions Betis in sixth place positioning for the top six finish according to Pellegrini and represents a noteworthy accomplishment.
For Real Madrid
The performance of Madrid and Barcelona ends with 54 points each side despite Barcelona having one more goal. Firstly, this loss—only their second in LaLiga this season—dents their title charge. The club’s weaker set-piece defense and problems converting exiting opportunities have come to light during this match because Mbappé and Vinícius Jr. missed clear scoring chances in stoppage time. The seven consecutive games without defeat from their past offers a positive aspect. The upcoming Champions League match against Atlético requires Ancelotti to deal with increasing pressure.
Conclusion: Betis’ Night of Glory
Real Betis won their match against Real Madrid by a 2-1 score which combined their fighting spirit with their aggressive attacking game. Both Isco and Cardoso captured the spotlight but Madrid suffered from unconverted opportunities during this match that changed the direction of LaLiga. As Betis moves to the following round their followers dream about playing in European competitions while continuing their success streak. Real Madrid suffers from the defeat but their established record guarantees a comeback. Real Betis secured their place in history by ending Real Madrid on March 1, 2025 in the Benito Villamarín Stadium through skillful play and memorable moments.
