Real Madrid vs Real Betis. Spanish La Liga.
Santiago BernabeuAttendance69,206.
Monday 13 March 2017 09:50, UK
Sergio Ramos' late winner sent Real Madrid back to the top of La Liga following a 2-1 win against Real Betis at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday night.
Madrid had found themselves behind after 25 minutes following an own goal from goalkeeper Keylor Navas, the first shot-stopper to put through his own net in the league this season.
However, Cristiano Ronaldo equalised for Real with his first-ever goal against Betis four minutes before half-time and after right-back Cristiano Piccini had been shown a 78th-minute red card, Ramos headed the home side's winner nine minutes from time.
As a result, Los Blancos move two points ahead of Barcelona, and having played a game less than the champions.
Madrid began on the front foot as they went in search of the three points that would see them return to the top of the table after Barca's defeat at Deportivo La Coruna earlier in the day.
Ronaldo fired over the bar after being picked out by Alvaro Morata's inviting ball across the six-yard box, before Isco then flashed one long-range effort inches past Antonio Adan's right-hand post.
Despite all Madrid's early pressure, though, it was Betis who should have opened the scoring after Darko Brasanac raced clean through on goal, faced with just Navas to beat.
However, as the Serb tried to dribble past Navas, he was upended by the goalkeeper, only for the referee to wave play on, much to the visitors' disbelief.
Maybe that incident was still playing on the player's mind when Betis took the lead midway through the first half as Riza Durmisi broke clear down the left wing.
The full back then picked out the run of Antonio Sanabria in the area, but there appeared little danger when the striker shot goalwards, only for Navas to somehow let the Paraguayan's weak effort squirm under his body and into the back of the net.
The shock of falling behind in such extraordinary circumstances stirred Madrid into life as the hosts laying siege to their opponents' goal for the remainder of the half, with their pressure finally rewarded after 41 minutes.
Marcelo was afforded too much time and space on the left flank to send over a cross, which found the unmarked Ronaldo, whose strike was the 46th with his head in La Liga, a record for the Spanish top flight.
Not only that, but it was also the 366th league strike of the forward's career, matching Jimmy Greaves' haul in the process, albeit in 51 fewer games than the Englishman.
But if Madrid thought Betis would crumble after that equaliser, they were mistaken as the Andalusians put up stubborn resistance in the second half, while also aided by some luck.
None more so than 17 minutes from time when Ronaldo was incorrectly judged to have been offside moments before racing through on goal and lobbing the onrushing Adan.
The home team's luck began to turn, though, when Piccini picked up a second booking for pulling back Lucas Vazquez as the substitute latched on to Marcelo's wonderful through ball, with Real ahead three minutes later.
Toni Kroos swung a corner from the right straight on to the head of Ramos and Madrid's captain made no mistake with a thumping effort from close range for his 10th goal of the season.
However, there was still time for Navas to redeem himself after his earlier howler as the Costa Rican did brilliantly to dive full length and claw away Sanabria's injury-time header that seemed destined for the the net.
