Real Madrid did everything but score, and now find themselves denied a chance at unparalleled history and in a relatively deep early hole in La Liga’s table.
A stoppage time loss to visiting Real Betis ended the club’s 73-match run of matches with a goal, and it came on the day it could’ve passed Pele’s Santos for sole possession of the longest scoring streak in history.
[ MORE: Pulisic scores 10th BVB goal ]
Perhaps more important, Madrid now sits seven points back of first place Barcelona. Their eight points leave them sixth.
Real Madrid 0-1 Real Betis
The hosts looked so good, and so fluid... and provided any number of finishes which would’ve been goals on another day. Unfortunately for them, the only goal came from Paraguay’s Antonio Sanabria in the fourth minute of second half stoppage time.
That’s because Real Betis goalkeeper Antonio Adan was sensational, including a stunning stop on Gareth Bale’s backheeled volley in the final quarter hour.
🗣 #&@%@GarethBale11 curses out @AntonioAdan13 for getting in the way of this effort 👇#RealMadridRealBetis pic.twitter.com/f5GgHwZPhq
— beIN SPORTS USA (@beINSPORTSUSA) September 20, 2017
It could’ve gone worse for Madrid, as Mexico’s Andres Guardado had an assist called back for offside.
Before that, there was this from one of the best in history:
Maybe @Cristiano had something else in mind for his 2017/18 @LaLiga opener 🤔 #RealMadridRealBetis pic.twitter.com/cAwHUv5LFe
— beIN SPORTS USA (@beINSPORTSUSA) September 20, 2017
Athletic Bilbao 1-2 Atletico Madrid
Angel Correa and Yannick Carrasco helped the visitors go second in La Liga, as ex-Atleti midfielder Raul Garcia provided Athletic’s only goal deep into stoppage time.
Elsewhere
Leganes 0-0 Girona
Deportivo de la Coruna 1-0 Alaves
Sevilla 1-0 Las Palmas