Marco Asensio scored twice as Real Madrid recorded a 5-3 win over Real Betis in Sunday night's entertaining La Liga contest at the Benito Villamarin.
Betis came from behind to lead 2-1 at the interval, but Real Madrid - who stay fourth in the table on 45 points - impressively turned things around in the second period to triumph in Seville.
Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole's minute-by-minute live commentary of the action below.
6.46pmEvening all! Sports Mole's live La Liga coverage continues from Seville as thrill-a-minute Real Betis welcome the reigning champions Real Madrid. Betis won 1-0 in the reverse match at the Bernabeu earlier this season, and will be looking to shock Los Blancos once again tonight. Stay tuned for what should be a very exciting and indeed open game of top-flight Spanish football!
6.49pmBetis recorded a 1-0 victory at the Bernabeu back in September, with Antonio Sanabria coming up with a late winner for the Seville outfit. Real Madrid were 6-1 winners when they travelled to this stadium last season, however, with Karim Benzema, Isco and Cristiano Ronaldo among the goals.
6.52pmRight, without further ado, let me bring you up-to-speed with the all-important team news. Betis have had a free week to prepare for this match, but Real Madrid were in Champions League action against Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday night. Any changes? Let's run through the two XIs for this one...
6.55pmTEAMS!
BETIS: Adan; Barragan, Mandi, Amat, Bartra, Junior; Joaquin, Guardado, Fabian; Loren, Boudebouz
REAL: Navas; Carvajal, Nacho, Ramos, Marcelo; Lucas, Casemiro, Kovacic, Asensio; Bale, Ronaldo
6.58pm
No vamos a negar que por aquí estamos muy bien, pero esto sin vosotros no tiene sentido 🙌💚🔝 ¡Queremos escucharos ya rugir! 🌋#DíaDeBetis #RealBetisRealMadrid pic.twitter.com/UP820BmzYB
— Real Betis Balompié (@RealBetis) February 18, 2018
7.02pmBetis boss Quique Setien has made just the one change from the team that started last week's 1-0 win at Deportivo La Coruna. The aleration comes at the back as Antonio Barragan replaces Francis Guerrero. As a result, Loren Moron will once again start at the tip of their attack, with the striker scoring three times in his two La Liga appearances since coming into the first-team set-up.
7.05pmAs for Real Madrid, Karim Benzema drops to the bench as Gareth Bale starts alongside Cristiano Ronaldo in the final third, while Marco Asensio, Mateo Kovacic and Lucas Vazquez also all come into the XI. Toni Kroos misses out with knee ligament damage, while Luka Modric is rested. There is also a change at the back as Dani Carvajal - who was suspended for the PSG clash - returns.
7.08pmSo there we have it. The two teams are in, and we are now just about 40 minutes from kickoff in Seville. I shall speak about the home side a little bit later, but let's start with Real Madrid. Zinedine Zidane's team will enter this match off the back of a morale-boosting 3-1 win over French giants PSG in the first leg of their last-16 clash in the Champions League on Wednesday night.
7.12pm
6 - Real Madrid have won six of their last nine visits to Benito Villamarin in La Liga (D1 L2), and they have only failed to score in one of their last 17 games there (1-0 in September 2012). Hope. pic.twitter.com/VSViO0IWwM
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) February 18, 2018
7.15pmThere was huge pressure on Real Madrid entering the clash with PSG, and that heightened when Adrien Rabiot sent the visitors ahead in Madrid. Cristiano Ronaldo levelled from the penalty spot late in the first period, however, before adding a second in the 83rd minute. Brazilian full-back Marcelo then netted three minutes later as Zidane's side secured a 3-1 first-leg advantage.
7.18pmIt might well be that Zidane needs to win the Champions League for a third straight season in order to save his job. Indeed, there will be no Copa del Rey this season with Real Madrid being eliminated by Leganes in the quarter-finals, and Los Blancos are 20 points behind league leaders Barcelona.
7.22pmReal Madrid do have two games in hand over Barcelona, but they are not going to retain the Spanish title this season. The capital giants have also fallen 13 points behind second-placed Atletico Madrid, and they are currently battling Valencia for third position. There is no getting away from the fact that it has been a very disappointing league season for the champions.
7.25pm
📋 Here's tonight's starting XI to face @RealBetis_en. VAMOS!!!#RMMovistar | #RMLiga pic.twitter.com/3IcdoiFDxg
— Real Madrid C.F.🇺🇸🇬🇧 (@realmadriden) February 18, 2018
7.28pmIndeed, Real Madrid have only won 12 of their 22 league matches this term. Just one of their four defeats have come on the road, but they have shared the points on four occasions on their travels – including their last away game at Levante. That said, they did record a 5-2 win over Real Sociedad at the Bernabeu last weekend. Kickoff in Seville is now little over 15 minutes away; the atmosphere is building!
7.32pmBetis, meanwhile, have been the great entertainers of La Liga this season. They have either been brilliant or terrible. Indeed, just three of their 23 league matches this term have finished level - winning 10 and losing 10. They sit in ninth spot on 33 points – five points off sixth-placed Villarreal.
7.35pmBetis have actually conceded more (23) than they have scored (22) at home in the league this season; they beat Villarreal 2-1 on home soil earlier this month, and also recorded a 1-0 victory away to Deportivo La Coruna last weekend. That said, league leaders Barcelona were 5-0 winners when they travelled to this stadium towards the end of last month.
7.38pm
💪🏋️♂️⚽#RBBlive #RealBetisRealMadrid pic.twitter.com/WIEpinv5fj
— Real Betis Balompié (@RealBetis_en) February 18, 2018
7.42pmSince returning to La Liga for the 2015-16 campaign, Betis have finished 10th and 15th in the top flight; they are on course to better both of those finishes this term, and will have their eye on their highest finish since the 2004-05 campaign, which brought fourth. A win tonight would be a huge step in the right direction. Right, we are just about three minutes from kickoff in Seville!
0 minKICKOFF! Betis kick things off on home soil...
2 min... it must be said that there is a wonderful atmosphere inside the stadium tonight. You do get the feeling that Betis need to start well if they are to stand a chance of picking up a positive result.
4 minRonaldo looks to meet a through pass from Lucas, but the offside flag is raised. Ronaldo is central alongside Bale at the moment, with Lucas and Asensio operating in the wide positions. Betis, as expected, have three centre-backs, which will allow Barragan and Junior to both break forward.
5 minRonaldo delivers low into the Betis box after controlling the ball in a dangerous position, but Amat is on hand to make the clearance. Lively start from the visitors, who have so much pace in their XI tonight.
5 minBOOKING! Carvajal (Real Madrid) is booked for a foul on Boudebouz.
7 minPass, pass, pass from Real Madrid as they look to work the ball into a dangerous area; without Modric and Kroos, the likes of Casemiro and Kovacic will need to dictate the play tonight.
9 minJust a reminder that Real Madrid entered this match 20 points behind league leaders Barcelona, albeit with two games in hand. Still goalless in Seville, although the visitors have been on the front foot. Asensio has just delivered into the Betis box from a wide position, but Adan was on hand to collect.
11 minGood pressure from Betis in the last minute or two, but Barragan's cross at the end of a fine move is too strong for Loren. Nacho collects the ball off Varane as Real Madrid build from the back.
11 minGOAL! Real Betis 0-1 Real Madrid (Asensio)
12 minReal Madrid take the lead in the 11th minute as Asensio heads home from inside the box after Adan had parried a strike from Ronaldo into a dangerous area. The visitors are head in Seville!
14 minBetis need their supporters to stay with them, but the atmosphere has dropped following that Asensio header. It is vital that the home side start to threaten the Real Madrid goal here.
15 minJoaquin has one deflected wide of the Real Madrid post following a smart move just outside the box. This little bit of pressure has given the crowd a lift, which is so important.
17 minBetis continue to enjoy a lot of the ball in the final third, but Navas has not yet had to make a save in the opening 17 minutes of this one. It is a very open and entertaining game of football.
19 minAnother half-chance for the home side as Junior delivers a dangerous low cross into Loren, but the Betis forward can only turn wide of the post under pressure from two defenders. It has been a decent response form the hosts as they attempt to recover from Asenso's 11th-minute header.
21 minBetis are having all of the ball at the moment as Real Madrid are forced to drop deep here.
23 minAnother half-chance for the home side as Junior finds more space down the right before delivering, but Joaquin cannot get a clean strike on the ball. Real Madrid are struggling at the moment.
23 minCLOSE! Mandi heads a Joaquin corner just wide of the post!
25 minReal Madrid are struggling to get going at the moment, but they do lead courtesy of that early header from Asensio. You can almost feel a second Real Madrid goal coming on the counter-attack.
25 minCLOSE! Loren's low strike from distance just misses the Real Madrid post!
27 minWe have not seen an awful lot from Bale in the opening 27 minutes of this match, but you have to feel that Real Madrid will have some joy on the counter-attack as the home side continue to commit players in the final third of the field. Betis have a free kick some 30 yards from goal here...
27 min... SAVE! Flying save from Navas to keep out Joaquin's free kick!
28 minMarcelo looks to have a problem here as the left-back holds his hamstring.
29 minMandi just found himself free inside the Real Madrid box once again, but the centre-back got his header all wrong. It does appear that the visitors will be forced into a change at left-back here.
30 minREAL MADRID SUB! Theo Hernandes replaces Marcelo for the away side.
32 minLittle under 15 minutes of the first period remaining, and the home side are really pressing for an equaliser. Real Madrid have not had much of the ball since the early stages of this match.
33 minBale just cannot get into the game for Real Madrid as Betis continue to win the ball high up the field. There is absolutely no question that the home side deserve to be level at this stage of the match.
33 minGOAL! Real Betis 1-1 Real Madrid (Mandi)
34 minBetis deservedly level the scores here as Mandi rises to head a brilliant Joaquin cross into the back of the net. It is no more than the home side deserve after an excellent response to falling behind!
36 minThis stadium is absolutely bouncing, but Real Madrid are now on the front foot. Betis need to be careful that they do not sit back and concede a second before the half-time break here.
37 minRonaldo meets a corner from Asensio, but his header was always straight at Adan.
37 minGOAL DISALLOWED! Ronaldo finds the back of the net with a smart finish, but the Portugal international was in an offside position when Casemiro made the pass.
37 minGOAL! Real Betis 2-1 Real Madrid (Nacho OG)
38 minOh my word! Betis take the lead in the 37th minute as Junior breaks into the Real Madrid box before having a go, and his effort hits Navas before Nacho turns into the back of his own net!
40 minWhat a wonderful first half of action in Seville. Real Madrid are behind, but they are really threatening as we approach the final moments of the first period, which has been just electric here.
42 minSAVE! Smart save from Adan to keep out a strike from Ronaldo!
44 minIt must be said that the first 44 minutes of this match have flown past. Real Madrid took the lead in the 11th minute through Asensio, but it has been Betis' game since then, there is absolutely no question about that. The home side deserve to lead at this stage of the contest in Seville.
45 min+1Just the one additional minute at the end of the first period here.
45 min+2HALF-TIME: Real Betis 2-1 Real Madrid
8.33pmSo there we have it. The referee brings the first period to a close with Real Betis leading Real Madrid 2-1. The visitors took the lead in the 11th minute through Asensio, but Mandi levelled in the 34th minute before an own goal from Nacho saw Betis go 2-1 ahead three minutes later.
8.38pmSTATISTICS! Real Betis shaded the first-half possession with 53%, while they had nine attempts - three of which were on target. Real Madrid only managed five attempts, but four of those were on target. Two yellow cards to report - Carvajal for Real Madrid and Barragan for the home side here.
8.43pmBENCH WATCH! Real Madrid have a lot of attacking talent on their bench tonight, with the likes of Isco, Benzema, Modric and Ceballos all available. That said, the visitors have already been forced into an alteration here - Theo Hernandez replacing the injured Marcelo. Real Betis, meanwhile, have options in shape of Camarasa, Durmisi, Guerrero, Leon and Tello as we gear up for the second period.
46 minRESTART! Real Madrid kick things off in the second period...
47 min... no changes from either side at the break, which is not much of a surprise. However, I suspect that both managers will have alterations in mind as the second period develops in Seville.
47 minBOOKING! Kovacic (Real Madrid) is booked for a rash tackle on Loren.
49 minCHANCE! Fabian finds Guardado just outside the Real Madrid box, but the Mexican misses the crossbar! The visitors were all over the place at the back there.
49 minBOOKING! Junior (Betis) is booked for a foul on Casemiro.
50 minGOAL! Real Betis 2-2 Real Madrid (Ramos)
51 minOh my word! Real Madrid level the scores as Ramos powers a header into the back of the net. It was Lucas that delivered the corner into the home side's box, and Ramos thumped his effort home.
53 minReal Madrid are having a lot of the ball at the moment as they pass and probe in the final third.
55 minI would be astounded if we had seen the last of the goals in this match as both teams continue to commit players in the final third of the field. Betis need to try and stay on the front foot here.
55 minBOOKING! Ramos (Real Madrid) is booked for a foul on Loren.
56 minSAVE! Super save from Adan to keep out Bale, who had driven into the Real Madrid box before attempting to find the back of the net. It is so stretched at the moment!
58 minPOST! Bale hits the outside of the post with an effort from inside the box!
58 minBOOKING! Bale (Real Madrid) is booked for dissent.
59 minGOAL! Real Betis 2-3 Real Madrid (Asensio)
60 minReal Madrid regain the lead in the 59th minute as Carvajal races down the right before delivering into Asensio, who guides the ball into the far corner of the net. Super finish!
61 minBOOKING! Loren (Betis) is booked for a late challenge on Navas.
63 minWe are entering the stage of the match where Betis boss Setien will be considering changes. Real Madrid are very much on the front foot at the moment as they look for a fourth goal.
65 minGOAL! Real Betis 2-4 Real Madrid (Ronaldo)
66 minReal Madrid have their fourth of the night as Ronaldo settles on the ball inside the Betis box before the Portugal international power the ball past Adan, who might have done a little bit better!
68 minLoren heads harmlessly wide of the Real Madrid post following a cross from Joaquin.
70 minSAVE! Navas dives across his goal to keep out a curling effort from Fabian.
72 minReal Madrid will introduce Isco when the ball next goes out. Betis are passing and probing here.
73 minSuper defending from Mandi as the Betis centre-back manages to clear ahead of Bale, who had looked the favourite to meet a deep cross from Ronaldo. Guardado then misses the crossbar with a long-range effort down the other end of the field. Still a wonderful game of football here.
74 minREAL MADRID SUB! Isco replaces Bale for the away side.
76 minBETIS SUB! Garcia replaces Amat for the home side.
78 minLittle over 10 minutes of the second period remaining, and Betis seem to have run out of puff after putting so much into the first period. Real Madrid have been strong in the second half of action.
80 minRonaldo has just been flagged offside when racing through into the Betis box, but replays showed that the attacker was indeed onside. Ronaldo has been bright as a button in the second period.
81 minBOOKING! Casemiro (Real Madrid) is booked for a foul on Guardado.
81 minBETIS SUB! Leon replaces Guardado for the home side.
82 minBETIS SUB! Tello has replaced Boudebouz for the home side.
84 minJunior misses the post from outside the Real Madrid box, moments after Loren wanted a penalty for handball, but the referee was not interested in the incident involving Kovacic.
85 minGOAL! Real Betis 3-4 Real Madrid (Leon)
86 minGame on! Betis have one back as Leon turns home at the far post! One more?!
88 minReal Madrid win a free kick inside their own half, and Casemiro is taking his time as the clock ticks on. I suspect that there will be at least three minutes added at the end of the 90 minutes here.
88 minBetis have a free kick in a dangerous area as Carvajal brings Tello to the deck...
88 min... Joaquin's free kick was always too high.
89 minREAL MADRID SUB! Benzema replaces Ronaldo for the away side.
90 minBetis continue to press forward as we head for the end of normal time, but Real Madrid are holding firm. You suspect that there might be one more opportunity for the hosts before full-time here.
90 min+1We are into the first of three additional minutes here.
90 min+2Tello smashes a cross into Junior, and it hits the Betis defender before going for a goal-kick.
90 min+2GOAL! Real Betis 3-5 Real Madrid (Benzema)
90 min+3Real Madrid secure all three points as Benzema finds the back of the net with a super finish following a clever pass from Lucas. That is game, set and match here.
90 min+4FULL-TIME: Real Betis 3-5 Real Madrid
9.38pmSo there we have it. The referee brings the second period to a close with Real Madrid running out 5-3 winners over Real Betis in Seville. What a 90 minutes of football! Thanks for joining Sports Mole for our live minute-by-minute coverage of the action. Until next time!
