Real Madrid 2-1 Real Betis summary: score, goals, highlights, LaLiga 2022/23

First green and white obstacle for Madrid comfortably dealt with.

Next stop Glasgow next Tuesday in the Champions League where Celtic await with the hoops jubilant after a solid 4-0 win over city rivals Rangers!

Betis have time to dust themselves down as they travel to Finland to face HJK next Thursday in Helsinki in their opening Europa League group stage game.

The whistle sounds at the Bernabeu and Madrid maintain their excellent opening phase to the 2022-23 season with a 2-1 win over Betis.

A half hearted penalty appeal from Betis as Courtis and Iglesias collide.... Nothing going for the match official.

We'll have 5 minutes of added time but the points are staying in Madrid tonight...

Sub: Real Madrid

Off: Carvajal

On: Rudiger

Madrid looking very comfortable now, doing an expert job of keeping Betis at bay.

No injury concerns from the game, three points and sole leader... a perfect afternoon for Ancelotti

Time running out now for Real Betis. The Andalusian side have failed to enjoy the dominance that they showed in the first 45' and have been a little flat in the second half. 

Madrid win another dangerous free...this time a little further out as Alaba shapes... Valverde it is in the end who strikes the ball off the wall and Edgar takes it full in the face

Real Madrid subs:

On:  Ceballos and Kroos

Off: Modric and Rodrygo

Water break time...

Great strike from Guido as he forces Courtois to palm behind. Second corner of the night for the visitors.

Energy levels do seem to be dropping a bit here with the intensity of the game and the heat taking their toll. 

Into the final 20' of the contest and Betis do need to create more .... Madrid have enjoyed the bulk of the clear cut scoring chances as Asensio is stripped and ready to make an entrance.

Betis subs.

On: Joaquin, Willian Jose & Rubial

Off: Sabaly, Juanmi & Guardado

Modric goes inches wide with an outside of the boot effort

Joaquin poised to make an entrance

Bernabeu in raptures now as the home fans find their voice

Valverde feed the Brazilian and once again Rui Silva could have done better

Madrid are back in front as Rodrygo strikes

First switch for Real Madrid:

Camavinga off - Valverde on

Sergio Canales.... what a player !

Possession after the hour mark: Madrid 50-50 Betis

Alaba and Benzema over the ball. Benzema taps to Alaba and then drives over the bar.

Rodrygo fouled on the edge of the box as Betis player protest claiming that advantage had already been played...

Danger here for Betis.

Juanmi almost makes it 1-2 as the former Southampton striker drives the ball wide. 

The flag was up though so any goal would not have counted.

Hazard, Kroos and Valverde also warming up for Real Madrid.

Alex Moreno gets a shot off for Betis when a ball through to Iglesias would have been a better option.

Madrid seem to have started the half with added gusto as they pen Betis back deep inside their own half.

Manuel Pellegrini orders a number of Betis subs to warm up.

The ball is almost over the line as Benzema almost puts the ball in the net. The ball is cleared but the whistle sounds and the goal would not have stood.

Betis remaining faithful to their plan of trying to play the ball out from the back....This time it it nearly backfired as Alex Moreno gives the ball to Madrid.

Second half is underway... Madrid start the second 45'

Madrid are at home again next weekend as they welcome Real Mallorca, Betis face a rickier test as they play Villarreal at the Benito Villamarin.

A draw would suit both sides ...to a point.... Both maintain their unbeaten run but a point would deliver more of a morale boost to the visitors. 

All square at the Bernabeu

Vini Jr fired Madrid ahead in the 9th minute but Canales was on hand to draw the visitors level in the 17th minute

Half time at the Bernabeu: Real Madrid 1-1 Real Betis

We're going to have 3 minutes of added time.

Canales breaks and almost runs the length of the pitch before being muscled off the ball by Militao.

Interesting to see that Canales refused to celebrate his goal as a mark of respect to the Real Madrid fans. Canales had a (rather unsuccessful) spell as a younger player at the Bernabeu following a move from Racing Santander.

Final five of the half and the game is still beautifully balanced. Canales almost finds Borja Iglesias as Betis press now.

In the end it's the French striker but the execution is poor as the ball drifts high and over the Betis bar.

Benzema and the Austrian are over the ball

Ten minutes of the half remain. Both sides are involved in European next week with Madrid heading to Glasgow to face Celtic on Tuesday in the Champions League. Betis too head to the north and face HJK Helsinki in the Europa League next Thursday.

Time for a quick drinks break... a moment for both sets of players to have a breather and both Ancelotti and Pellegrini have words of advice for their respective teams.

Betis enjoying the better of possession as we hit the 30 minute mark. A riveting contest with Madrid enjoying the better of clear cut scoring chances.

Edgar carded for a trip on Carvajal... first name in the book today

After a frantic few minutes, the action has calmed down with both sides enjoying spells if dominance. 

Benzema goes close and it really should be 2-1 with Vini Jr at fault missing that earlier sitter

Tchouaméni almost makes it 2-1... Rui Silva pulls off an incredible acrobatic save to deny the Brazilian.

Vini Jr has to score and with the goal at his mercy, the Brazilian blazes over...

Moreno with a quick throw to Iglesias who finds Canales with the ball squirming under Courtois' body

Gooooooool. Betis draw level as Canales finds the net

Fekir seemed to have fallen awkwardly in the disputed incident with Carvajal and tewaked his hamstrng musckle.

A blow for Betis with the French player a key part of Manuel Pelligrini's side...

Betis forced to make a change as Fekir seems to have picked up a knock and can't continue... Luis Henrique takes his place.

Rui Silva caught in no mans land as the Brazilian delivered a sublime lob

Great finish from the Brazilian latching onto an Alaba ball.... a hint of offside maybe as VAR will check...

Betis appeal for a spot kick as Fekir is fouled in the box. Ref waves play on amid ironic chants from the 1,000 string travelling supporters.

First bit of danger from Betis as Juanmi pops a ball into the box but it's overhit and drifts out of play.

Both teams easing their way into the action.

Off we go...

All set... Betis to take the kick off....

Real Madrid show off both the Champions League and Uefa Super Cup trophies to the home fans ahead of a minutes silence to commemorate all Madrid fans that passed during the summer. 

The teams emerge from the tunnel to a sun-kissed Bernabeu. Madrid set to sport their classic all white kit with Betis today in their iconic green and white stripes and black shorts.

All set at the Bernabeu as the stadium mc reads out the names of the starting line ups... Still a swathe of the south stand behind the goal covered in tarpaulin as the renovation work continues.

We've already had two games of matchday 4 played in LaLiga with Celta inflicting a 3-0 win over hapless Cadiz who prop up the table and Mallorca and Girona played out a 1-1 draw in Palma.

Here's how the top of the table looks coming into today's game. Only three games played so far in the 22-23 season so a little too soon to be making any major analisis but both Betis and Madrid have come out of the blocks meaning business.

Barcelona also face opposition from the Andalusian capital later tonight as they travel to Seville and face Lopetegui's men.

Ancelotti refuses to give up on Hazard

Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti is still hopeful that Belgium forward Eden Hazard will still make an impact at the club even though he has started another season as a reserve player.

The former Chelsea player joined Real Madrid in 2019 for 100 million euros ($99.85 million) but has not met expectations, scoring only six goals and providing eight assists in 66 games across three seasons in Spain.

Hazard came off the bench for the last 33 minutes of Real's season opener at Almeria, missed a penalty, and then played only eight minutes against Celta Vigo and did not feature on Sunday at Espanyol.

"He is not hurt, you don't need to ask that every week. He is working well and I don't think only three games are enough to come to any conclusion," Ancelotti told a news conference ahead of today's match against Real Betis, their first home game of the new LaLiga season.

"I'm confident that he will have a much more prominent role than he did last year."

Hazard has struggled for consistency due to a series of injuries that kept him from playing more than 18 games in each of his three campaigns in Spain.

Joaquin arrives !

Betis hero Joaquin arrives at the Bernabeu. Could this be the last time the 41-year-old graces the iconic ground? The winger recently offered to retire ahead of time given Betis' complications in registering players. 

Madrid dressing room is ready

Some clever product placement from the Real Madrid social media team with Nivea products featuring highly in this tweet showcasing the new dressing rooms at the Santiago Bernabeu,

Carvalho extends

Betis' central midfielder William Carvalho extended his deal with the Andalusian side this week through to 2026 but the Portuguese international will be out of action this afternoon with an ankle issue. He's expected to resume competitive action at the end of September.

Two clean sheets from Real Betis in their opening games with Madrid shipping a goal per game in their three contests, that said they have amassed a total of 9 goals for !

Madrid-Betis: match official

José María Sánchez Martínez has been selected to officiate today's clash in the Spanish capital. The Lorca born official has been a FIFA ranked referee since 2017 and the 38-year-old will be assisted by Xavier Estrada Fernandez in the VAR booth.

Real Madrid v Real Betis: Past five LaLiga meetings

May 2022: Real Madrid 0-0 Betis

August 2021: Betis 0-1 Real Madrid

April 2021: Real Madrid 0-0 Betis

September 2020: Betis 2-3 Real Madrid

March 2020: Betis 2-1 Real Madrid

Betis XI

Sergio Canales starts for Betis with the central player always a joy to watch in the centre of the park!

It's a start today too for veteran Mexican midfielder Guardado as the 35-year-old will want to continue to impress with the World Cup looming on the horizon and El Tri pitted in a tricky group along with Argentina, Saudi Arabia and Poland.

Real Madrid face two green and white clad sides back to back with the trip to Celtic Park on Tuesday but the challenge ahead for Ancelotti is to score against Real Betis today at the Bernabeu

In March 2017, 'Los Blancos' struggled to come from behind to beat Betis 2-1, but since then they have not been able to find the net against the Andalusian team. Quique Setién's Betis recorded two wins in the capital (0-1 and 0-2) followed by three goalless draws, one with Rubi on the Betis bench and the last two coming with Manuel Pellegrini at the helm

Real Madrid XI

As is the general case, Real Madrid publish their starting XI well ahead of the 60 minute cut-off mark with Rodrygo getting a start for Ancelotti's side with the Italian coach well aware that a stern Champions League test is just around the corner as Madrid travel to Glasgow next week to face Celtic in matchday one of the group stage. Celtic Park is never an easy place to get a result!

Bernabeu awaits

Today's game also marks Real Madrid's first home game of the 2022-23 season as renovation work on the iconic stadium is still ongoing. The club anticipate that the finished version will be unveiled at the end of the current season when the ground will hold 85,000 fans. With the construction work still ongoing, the current capacity is just over 70,000.

Today's game is a early season top of the table clash between the early pace setters in LaLiga with both clubs heading into Saturday's game with a 100% record. 

The action in the Spanish capital gets underway at 4:15 pm (local time) / 10:15 am (ET) and 07:15 am (PT).

Hello and a very warm welcome to our live coverage of the matchday 4 LaLiga Santander action as Real Madrid face Real Betis at the Santiago Bernabeu.