After two league games without a win, Real Madrid have won their away fixture at Real Betis 2-1 (1-0). Luka Modric (13th minute) put Real in the lead and Dani Ceballos took the free-kick in the 88th minute. Sergio Canales had been out in the 67th minute but it would have been a controversial draw.
Born in Seville, Ceballos played for Real Betis in his teens before joining Real Madrid in 2017. His substitution in the 74th minute in the away game at Betis was his first use for the new club against his old - and he stood a little later in the center: In the 88th minute, the 20-year-old laid the ball to the free kick and sank him in the goalkeeping of Pau López. It was the winning goal for Real.
Until shortly before the end, it looked as if the Royal would be without a win for the third time in a row in the league. The remarkable opening goal by Modric (19.) resembled Canales (67.). First, referee Alejandro Jose Hernandez Hernandez on offside, but gave the hit but after re-examination of the situation. It was a controversial decision that would have thrown Madrid back in the championship race.
However, Ceballos hit Real in the table past Deportivo Alaves and is now tied to fourth with Sevilla. However, city rivals Atlético (after a win against Levante) with five and nemesis Barcelona (after a win against Eibar) with ten points more clear ahead of Real.