Real Madrid's perfect start to the La Liga season ended on Friday with a 1-0 defeat at Real Betis, a result that also marked the first loss for José Mourinho since his return to the club. The match at La Cartuja Stadium in Seville swung dramatically in the closing stages, with substitute Troy Parrott scoring the winning goal before Kylian Mbappé missed a stoppage-time penalty.
Parrott's Decisive Strike
Parrott, a Republic of Ireland international who joined Betis from AZ Alkmaar last month, broke the deadlock in the 81st minute. He reacted quickest after Thibaut Courtois parried a header from Nelson Deossa into his path. The goal came on his home debut, as Parrott was introduced as a substitute in the 68th minute.
The strike proved pivotal, with Betis moving level with Madrid on nine points from four matches. Betis had come into the match looking to rebound from a 5-2 defeat at Levante, and they delivered a \'well-drilled, battle-ready' performance.
The goal capped a hard-fought encounter. Madrid had dominated the early exchanges, with statistics suggesting they controlled play — they finished with eight shots on target and an expected goals (xG) of 3.16. However, they failed to convert that dominance into goals.
Mbappé's Missed Penalty
Mbappé had a night to forget, missing a double chance in the first half and also having a shot that hit the goal frame. His most significant miss came in added time when he stepped up to take a penalty after Betis defender Natan brought down Vinícius Júnior inside the area.
Goalkeeper Álvaro Valles saved the spot kick, with Mbappé having aimed for the lower left side of the net. Valles said he had studied Mbappé's penalties and guessed correctly that he would go to his right side.
"We were sure we had it, but of course you also need a bit of luck," Valles said after the match, as reported by the Associated Press. "He is very good at trying to make you commit early and not showing you where he is aiming. I was fortunate to stop it."
Mbappé has scored in two of three games this season, including one hat trick. He had led the World Cup in scoring this summer. The missed penalty just added to Madrid's frustration, which had already seen a Carlos Espí overhead kick disallowed for offside following a VAR review.
Mourinho's Confusion and Controversy
Mourinho voiced his frustration at the result, saying he could not explain the defeat. "Sometimes you lose and you don't know why", he said in his postmatch news conference, as ESPN and multiple other reports noted. "I have nothing to blame players for. We deserved to win clearly, but deserving doesn't get you points."
He added: "If it was a draw we would be frustrated, because we deserved more, so imagine with a defeat!"
The Madrid bench argued that Mbappé's penalty should have been retaken after Betis defender Marc Bartra appeared to encroach into the area. Replays showed Bartra was the first defender to breach the penalty-perimeter, and he later cleared the ball after Valles saved the kick.
However, a closer look revealed that at the moment Mbappé struck the ball, Bartra had not yet touched the ground inside the area. He was airborne, leaning into the box but not on the pitch. That detail meant the officials did not consider it sufficient encroachment to warrant a retake.
Mourinho was careful not to judge the officials without seeing the incidents. "I haven't seen them," he said. "I may change my mind watching the game tomorrow, but my feeling from the bench is that I don't see why we lost. I can't find the justification because the team played very well in every aspect."
He also explained his earlier sarcastic remarks about Betis, saying they played for a draw and came away with the big prize. Parrott himself described his role in the goal: "That's a striker's job, to go in after the ball and hope it will fall my way," he said, as reported by ESPN.
Implications for the Season
The defeat leaves Madrid, still unbeaten in the league, but slipping into the second place behind Barcelona on goal difference despite having played one more game. They had won their opening three matches under Mourinho in this second round. The first loss came ahead of their Champions League opener on Tuesday, when they will host Inter Milan.
For Betis, the victory lifted them level on points with Madrid in the top three and marked a memorable return to form at home. Parrott's goal quietened the early-season raucous atmosphere at a dramatic match that saw the hosts hold on under English pressure.
The result also extended Madrid's winless record at home against Betis in their most recent meetings. The defeat was a wake-up call for the capital club, echoing a familiar pattern of lacking edge in Seville.
As the season moves forward, Mourinho's side will need to quickly Phys Ed that performance, especially with the Champions League looming. For Betis, the win provides a blueprint for how to frustrate a title contender. The sight of a former player, one Mourinho had given his debut and the match ball back at Tottenham, scoring the winner adds another layer to the narrative as reported by several outlets.