Real Madrid Player Ratings vs Real Betis: Mbappé Struggles as Mourinho Suffers First Defeat

Real Madrid’s perfect start to the 2026/27 LaLiga season came to an abrupt end on Friday night as Real Betis defeated José Mourinho’s side 1-0 at the Estadio La Cartuja in Seville. Real Betis defeated Real Madrid 1:0

The result was decided by substitute Troy Parrott, who scored in the 81st minute after Thibaut Courtois had initially saved a header from Nelson Deossa. Real Madrid then had a huge opportunity to rescue a point, but Kylian Mbappé’s stoppage-time penalty was saved by Betis goalkeeper Álvaro Valles.

Madrid also saw a spectacular bicycle-kick finish from Carlos Espí ruled out for offside following a VAR review.

According to Reuters’ match report, the defeat ended Madrid’s flawless start to the league campaign. Real Madrid themselves also acknowledged in their official match report that they created the better chances but were unable to turn their opportunities into goals.

Real Betis 1-0 Real Madrid: Match Summary

Real Madrid controlled large portions of the contest but failed to make their dominance count.

The visitors started strongly, creating two significant opportunities inside the opening 15 minutes. Arda Güler supplied a dangerous cross for Dean Huijsen, whose effort was stopped by Valles, before another Güler delivery eventually led to Vinicius Jr hitting the post.

Madrid continued to threaten before half-time. Jude Bellingham produced a fine through ball for Vinicius, who found Mbappé inside the penalty area, but Betis defenders blocked the Frenchman’s attempts.

Bellingham then had a header saved, while Huijsen hit the crossbar shortly afterwards.

Despite Madrid’s pressure, Betis remained in the game and eventually found the breakthrough.

Troy Parrott Punishes Real Madrid

The decisive goal arrived in the 81st minute.

Nelson Deossa rose to meet a corner and produced a header that forced Courtois into an excellent save. Unfortunately for Madrid, the ball fell into the path of Troy Parrott.

The Betis substitute reacted quickly and converted the rebound to give the home side a 1-0 lead.

The goal was particularly significant because Madrid had spent much of the match creating pressure without finding the finishing touch.

Parrott’s goal ultimately turned Betis’ defensive resilience into three points.

Mbappé’s Difficult Night

Kylian Mbappé was one of the biggest talking points after the match, but not for the reasons Real Madrid supporters would have wanted.

The French forward had opportunities to change the game but could not convert them.

His night ended with an even bigger disappointment when he stepped up to take a penalty deep into stoppage time.

Vinicius Jr had been brought down inside the box by Natan, giving Madrid a final opportunity to equalise. Mbappé’s low effort was saved by Valles.

That miss completed a frustrating night for the Madrid forward.

Reuters reported that Mbappé also hit the crossbar during the late Madrid push, while his team-mate Carlos Espí had a bicycle kick ruled out after VAR review.

Real Madrid Player Ratings vs Real Betis

The following ratings are based on the post-match assessment published by Managing Madrid, with the match events cross-checked against Real Madrid’s official report and LaLiga’s match data.

Thibaut Courtois — 7/10

Courtois produced several important saves and could hardly be blamed for the goal.

He brilliantly stopped Deossa’s header, but the rebound fell directly to Parrott, who finished from close range.

Courtois’ performance showed why he remains one of Madrid’s most important defensive players, even though his saves were ultimately not enough to prevent defeat.

Denzel Dumfries — 4.5/10

Dumfries attempted to provide attacking width and helped create some overloads on the right, but his technical execution was inconsistent.

Managing Madrid highlighted problems with his first touch and passing, particularly in situations where Madrid needed greater precision.

Ibrahima Konaté — 6.5/10

Konaté had a relatively quiet defensive evening because Madrid controlled much of the match.

He still completed his responsibilities effectively and recorded five clearances.

There was little he could do about the decisive rebound that produced Betis’ goal.

Dean Huijsen — 9/10

One of Real Madrid’s best players on the night.

Huijsen impressed both defensively and in possession. His distribution helped Madrid progress the ball through Betis’ defensive structure, while he also presented a threat from set pieces.

He came close to scoring, first with an early effort that Valles saved and later with a header that struck the crossbar.

Despite Madrid’s defeat, Huijsen continued to demonstrate why he is becoming an increasingly important part of the team’s defence.

Marc Cucurella — 7/10

Cucurella delivered a solid performance and helped Madrid regain possession high up the pitch.

His defensive positioning allowed the visitors to transition quickly into attacks, while he remained composed when Madrid had the ball.

Fede Valverde — 5/10

Valverde struggled to make his usual influence felt.

Madrid had plenty of possession, but the midfielder was unable to impose himself consistently on the contest.

Eduardo Camavinga — 7/10

Camavinga played an important role during Madrid’s build-up.

He frequently dropped closer to the centre-backs and helped Madrid establish control during possession phases.

His ability to carry and circulate the ball helped Madrid progress, even though the final product was missing.

Arda Güler — 9/10

Another standout performer for Madrid.

Güler was arguably the most creative Madrid player on the pitch.

Managing Madrid credited him with seven key passes in the first half alone, underlining how frequently he created opportunities for his team-mates.

His delivery created some of Madrid’s best chances, including the early opportunity for Huijsen.

The biggest frustration for Güler will be that his creative work did not result in an assist or a Madrid goal.

Jude Bellingham — 7.5/10

Bellingham was particularly effective during the first half.

His ability to carry the ball forward and break lines gave Betis problems, while his through ball to Vinicius created one of Madrid’s clearest opportunities.

However, his influence declined after the interval.

Vinicius Jr — 5/10

Vinicius had a difficult evening against Betis’ defence.

He hit the post early in the match and later helped create the move that led to Carlos Espí’s disallowed bicycle kick.

However, he struggled to consistently win his individual battles and did not have the impact Madrid needed from one of its principal attacking threats.

Kylian Mbappé — 4/10

The lowest-rated Madrid starter in Managing Madrid’s assessment.

Mbappé registered several attempts but failed to convert the opportunities that came his way.

He hit the crossbar late in the match, missed other major chances and then saw his stoppage-time penalty saved by Valles.

For a player expected to decide matches at crucial moments, it was an unusually frustrating performance.

Real Madrid Substitutes

Carlos Espí — 8/10

Espí made an immediate impact after coming onto the pitch.

He appeared to have rescued Madrid when he produced a spectacular bicycle kick, but VAR ruled the goal out because of an earlier offside.

He then came close again with a powerful header in the final moments.

Despite not scoring an official goal, Espí was one of Madrid’s most dangerous players after entering the match.

Bernardo Silva — 6/10

Silva helped Madrid maintain possession after coming on and contributed to the late attacking pressure.

However, he was unable to provide the decisive moment Madrid needed.

Trent Alexander-Arnold — 6/10

Trent immediately added another attacking dimension by delivering crosses into the Betis penalty area.

One of his deliveries nearly resulted in an equaliser, although Betis ultimately survived Madrid’s late pressure.

Yan Diomande — 6/10

Diomande had limited opportunities to influence the match after entering the game.

He received the ball mostly in deeper positions and found little space to attack Betis’ defenders.

Álvaro Carreras — N/A

Carreras entered late in the game and did not play enough minutes to receive a meaningful rating.

Álvaro Valles: The Real Betis Hero

If Madrid’s attackers struggled, Betis goalkeeper Álvaro Valles was exceptional.

Valles made a series of important saves throughout the match and produced the biggest one when he denied Mbappé from the penalty spot.

According to Sofascore’s post-match analysis, Valles finished with a perfect 10 rating from its model and made six saves.

The goalkeeper’s performance was especially important because Madrid created enough chances to score.

His saves kept Betis alive long enough for Parrott to deliver the decisive blow.

José Mourinho Suffers First Defeat Since Real Madrid Return

The defeat was also significant for José Mourinho.

The Portuguese manager had begun his second spell at Real Madrid with a perfect league record, but Betis ended that run in dramatic fashion.

Madrid had won their opening three league matches before travelling to Seville. Their official preview had described the Betis trip as a difficult challenge, with the club noting that Mourinho’s side had been aiming to maintain its perfect league start.

That perfect record is now gone.

However, the performance itself was not necessarily a disaster. Madrid created multiple clear chances and hit the woodwork three times, according to the club’s official match report.

The bigger concern is their failure to convert those opportunities.

What the Result Means for the LaLiga Table

The result leaves Real Madrid on 9 points from four matches.

Real Betis also move to 9 points from four matches, while Barcelona remain on nine points from three matches and currently sit top of the table.

LaLiga’s official standings show Madrid second and Betis third after Friday’s result.

Note: The 5-point Betis figure appearing in some AI-generated summaries is outdated or incorrect following Friday’s result. The official LaLiga table currently lists Betis on nine points.

Madrid’s Biggest Problem: Finishing

The most obvious lesson from the match is that possession and chances mean little without finishing.

Madrid created enough opportunities to win the game.

They hit the post, struck the crossbar, forced Valles into several saves and earned a late penalty.

Yet they walked away from Seville without a goal.

Mbappé’s missed penalty will attract most of the headlines, but the problem was larger than one missed kick. Madrid had opportunities throughout the match and failed to punish Betis when they had control.

For Mourinho, the challenge will be turning impressive attacking phases into consistent goals.

What Happens Next for Real Madrid?

Madrid cannot afford to dwell on the defeat for long.

The club’s official schedule shows that the team is entering a demanding period that includes Champions League football.

Real Madrid are due to begin their Champions League campaign against Inter Milan next week before continuing their LaLiga schedule.

The defeat to Betis therefore arrives at an important point in the season. Mourinho will need his forwards to regain their sharpness quickly, particularly with European competition now beginning.

Final Verdict

Real Betis 1-0 Real Madrid was a classic example of football’s fine margins.

Madrid created chances. Betis defended. Valles made crucial saves. Parrott took advantage of a rebound. Mbappé missed a penalty.

And three points went to the home side.

For Madrid, the performance contained positives, particularly the displays of Dean Huijsen and Arda Güler. But the inability to finish chances and the late penalty miss will dominate the post-match conversation.

For Betis, the victory represents a major early-season statement. They have now taken three points from one of the league’s biggest clubs and moved level with Madrid on nine points.

Sources & Further Reading

• Real Madrid official match report
• LaLiga official match page
• LaLiga official standings
• Reuters: Mbappé denied at the death as Betis beat Real Madrid
• Sofascore: Valles saves late penalty and Parrott delivers
• Managing Madrid: Real Madrid player ratings