Real Madrid let a victory slip away that could have been key on matchday 32 of LaLiga. The meringues had a 1-0 advantage into stoppage time thanks to a goal by Vinícius Jr. in the 17th minute, who took advantage of a rebound from the goalkeeper to score with his left foot, but Héctor Bellerín appeared in the 94th minute to tie the game and seal the final 1-1 at La Cartuja in Seville, leaving Madrid with 74 points in second position.
The match had moments of danger for both teams. Goalkeeper Lunin made a great save in the 45th minute to avoid Betis’ tie before the break, while in the second half Kylian Mbappé scored a spectacular scissors goal that was disallowed for offside in the 54th minute. With the match apparently controlled by the meringues, the blow came in stoppage time with Bellerín’s goal that sank Madrid’s aspirations to close the gap with the leader.
The result practically seals the LaLiga title in favor of Barcelona, who tomorrow has the opportunity to further widen the difference in their match against Getafe. The Blaugranas come into the match with 82 points and a less contested game than Madrid, so a victory would leave them 11 points behind their biggest rival with a few days left, leaving the championship practically in their hands.
With this tie, Real Madrid remains with 74 points in second place, while Barcelona with 82 points and one less game is aiming for the 2025-26 LaLiga title. If the Catalans beat Getafe tomorrow the difference would rise to 11 points, which would make any merengue comeback almost impossible in the remainder of the championship.
For Real Madrid the result comes at the worst possible moment. Already eliminated from the Champions League and the Copa del Rey, and with the LaLiga title practically out of reach, Álvaro Arbeloa’s men will end the season without titles, something that will generate more pressure on the future of the coach, whose contract continues to be a topic of debate in the offices of the Bernabéu.
Barcelona will play its match against Getafe this Saturday with the possibility of dealing an almost definitive blow in the race for the title. Hansi Flick’s team, which has just beaten Celta Vigo the previous day although with concern over Lamine Yamal’s injury, He will seek to extend his advantage and get closer to a championship that increasingly seems his own.
