Dani Carvajal's second half strike was enough to lift Real Madrid to a 1-0 victory at Betis on Saturday night at the Estadio Benito Villamarin in Seville.
2021/2022 La Liga
0-1
Match Report
It was a typically hard-fought battle between the two sides in Andalusia, with Carvajal's classy finish proving to be the difference to send Real into the international break on a high note.
Coach Carlo Ancelotti made the decision to go with Dani Carvajal and Miguel Gutierrez as full-backs, while Vinicius got the nod ahead of Eden Hazard in attack.
The young Brazilian nearly repaid Ancelotti's faith in him right away by creating the game's first chance with a move and a cut-back pass for Karim Benzema, who fired wide.
Betis were creating some headaches, too, and habitual giant-killer Nabil Fekir forced Real goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois into a tough stretch save.
A pair of offside calls negated a herculean save from Betis goalkeeper Rui Silva and a goal for Benzema, but it was reflective of Real's superiority to start the second stanza.
Moments after Juanmi spoiled a chance for Betis, the opener would arrive shortly after the hour mark when Vinicius did well to keep a ball in play, allowing Benzema to swing a ball across and Carvajal latching onto it first-time with a volley that beat Rui Silva to make it 0-1.
Ancelotti's first change saw Marco Asensio and Lucas Vazquez on for Gareth Bale and Isco, as Real sought a second. Asensio nearly delivered when he won a ball at midfield and had a goal at goal, but his shot skipped wide.
The next substitution was Vinicius making way for Hazard, followed by Rodrygo on for the injured Miguel Gutierrez, forcing Ancelotti to shuffle around his players for the final minutes.
It looked like it was going to be a calm final few minutes for Los Blancos, but Betis had one last look at the death with some playmaking coming from former Barcelona man Cristian Tello, who found another former Barcelona man, Martin Montoya, all alone in the box, but the shot went right to Courtois, who secured the ball as the final whistle sounded.
Match Events
5' CHANCE! Benzema's shot inches wide
11' Fekir's free kick stopped
22' Yellow Card! Fekir booked
31' Fekir's long shot over the bar
38' Isco's long shot wide out
41' Juanmi's long shot stopped by Courtois
46' Yellow Card! Ruibal booked
47' Benzema's shot over the bar
53' OFFSIDE! Benzema’s goal disallowed
60' GOAL! Betis 0-1 Real Madrid (Carvajal)
69' Ruibal's long shot too straight
73' CHANCE! Asensio's long shot wide out
78' Sub! Hazard replaces Vinicius
Line-ups
Betis XI: Guardado, Canales, V.Ruiz, Juanmi, Montoya, Pezzella, Fekir, Rui Silva, G. Rodriguez, Ruibal, Juan Miranda
Subs: Joaquin, Bravo, F.Portillo, Bartra, Tello, Carvalho, Camarasa, Iglesias, Edgar González, Y. Fékir, Paul Akouokou, Rodri
Real Madrid XI: Benzema, Bale, Alaba, Courtois, Casemiro, Isco, Carvajal, Valverde, Militao, Vinicius, Miguel Gutiérrez
Subs: Hazard, Vazquez, Jovic, Vallejo, Asensio, Antonio Blanco, Rodrygo, Toni Fuidias, Luis Federico López Andugar