Mbappe misses late penalty as Real Madrid lose 1-0 to Betis

Alvaro Valles turned Real Betis’ 1-0 win over Real Madrid into a dramatic statement by saving Kylian Mbappe’s stoppage-time penalty and then celebrating directly in front of the stunned forward.

Betis took the lead in the 81st minute when Troy Parrott reacted fastest after Thibaut Courtois stopped Nelson Deossa’s header from a corner. Madrid pressed immediately for an equalizer, but Valles continued to hold firm. He saved from Mbappe in the 68th minute and made several earlier stops that kept Betis ahead.

Madrid had dominated large stretches of the first half without scoring. Valles denied Dean Huijsen’s header, while Vinícius Júnior hit the woodwork from a tight angle. Mbappe was also twice denied in one attack, first by Natan and then by Marc Bartra, who cleared the second effort off the goal line. Valles later stopped Jude Bellingham’s header, and Huijsen headed another Arda Güler delivery against the crossbar.

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We were sure we had it, but of course you also need a bit of luck.

Betis also threatened, with Antony setting up Cucho Hernández, who shot narrowly wide. Güler was substituted in the 65th minute but was named man of the match after another influential attacking performance.

Madrid appeared to equalize in the 87th minute when Carlos Espi converted Vinícius’ cross with an overhead kick, but a video review ruled the goal offside. In the third minute of stoppage time, Vinícius won a penalty after Natan brought him down. Mbappe stutter-stepped during his run-up, but Valles read the attempt and dived left to save it. “We were sure we had it, but of course you also need a bit of luck,” Valles said. “I was fortunate to stop it.”

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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.