Mbappé’s Missed Penalty Hands Mourinho First Loss Since Madrid Return

Real Betis goalkeeper Álvaro Valles smothered Kylian Mbappé’s 94th-minute spot kick on Friday, sealing a 1-0 upset victory at Estadio de la Cartuja. The French superstar had converted seven consecutive penalties since joining Real Madrid in a highly publicized summer transfer, but his low effort was read correctly by Valles, who dived to make the save. The defeat halts what had been an impressive start to the domestic campaign for Madrid under manager José Mourinho, who returned to the club this summer 13 years after his initial three-year stint ended in 2013.

Troy Parrott scored the decisive blow in the 81st minute, his first goal for Betis since arriving from Dutch side AZ Alkmaar this summer. The Irish international striker reacted quickest after Betis midfielder Nelson Deossa’s powerful header stung the palms of Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who was unable to secure the rebound. Arch-rivals Barcelona now have the opportunity to establish a three-point lead at the top of the La Liga table when they travel to face Valencia on Sunday.

Madrid’s pursuit of an equalizer was defined by near-misses and officiating drama. Shortly after Parrott’s opener, Madrid substitute Carlos Espí found the back of the net with an acrobatic finish, but the goal was disallowed following a video assistant referee (VAR) review for offside. Mourinho’s side had multiple opportunities to open the scoring prior to Betis’s late surge; Vinícius Júnior struck the woodwork, while Mbappé failed to convert two clear opportunities before the halftime whistle.

The defeat is the first time since the 2014-15 season that Real Madrid has suffered a defeat within its opening four league matches. During his first spell in the Spanish capital, Mourinho won a La Liga title with a record-breaking 100 points in 2012, along with a Copa del Rey. His second tenure had begun with three consecutive league victories before Friday’s setback.

In the fourth minute of added time, Vinícius Júnior was brought down in the penalty area by Betis’s Brazilian defender Natan, prompting the referee to point to the spot. Real Madrid players immediately surrounded the referee to protest after the save, arguing that Betis defender Marc Bartra had prematurely encroached into the penalty box before the kick was taken. The officiating team dismissed the protests and declined to order a retake, allowing Betis to secure all three points.

Early in the second half, Valles denied England international Jude Bellingham with a crucial save, and Mbappé saw a powerful shot strike the crossbar with just five minutes of regulation time remaining. The Andalusian club has now taken points from six of its last eight competitive meetings against Real Madrid, continuing its run of strong defensive performances against the reigning Champions League holders.