Madrid could only take one point from Villamarín after a tremendous fight against Betis that competed until the end, a goalless draw that leaves the whites nine points behind Barcelona and represents a further step back in their already reduced chances of winning the league.
The impression left by the match is that the whites have lost their punch from Anfield. Since then they continue to have chances, but it costs them a world to take advantage of them. Fundamental in the attacking section of Ancelotti's men is that the duo formed by Vinícius and Benzema works. And both are suffering a drop in their performance right now.
In Seville Vinícius suffered from his main virtues but exhibited his worst defects. He was imprecise in his overflows and he was seen gesticulating with the referee, Soto Grado. He was lost for too long in personal battles that soon unhinged him and took him out of the match again.
Benzema was seen as in recent days, disconnected from the game, which has opened the debate in Madrid on the need to have a guaranteed second striker that allows the Frenchman to be more dosed, now 35 years old and who offers signs of tiredness despite the fact that in the first part of the season he played little because he accumulated several injuries that even made him miss the World Cup.
Against Betis, Ancelotti's novelty was to switch to the sides. Lucas Vázquez and Camavinga played instead of Carvajal and Nacho, the regulars for some time now.
Tchouaméni also returned to midfield, joining Kroos and Valverde. Modric rested and Ceballos kept the bench. The effect of the utreran is on the way to being lost after some very lucid performances that have not allowed him to win continuity in the eleven.
Faced with a Betis that had two very important casualties, those of Fekir and Canales, Madrid sought control of the ball from the outset with very advanced pressure. Betis responded with a very brave game, with strong legs, fighting every meter in all the plots of the field and going on the attack every time they stole a ball.
Madrid was able to score very early, after 11 minutes, from a free kick on Rodrygo, their best attacker. Benzema launched it and nailed the ball into Claudio Bravo's squad. However, the VAR intervened to cancel the goal when it noticed that the leather had touched Rüdiger's hand, which was part of the barrier.
Betis also had their chances, especially a distant shot from Ayoze that Courtois deflected in a display of reflexes with one hand.
On the edge of the break the controversy also came when the referee whistled a foul by Ruibal on Camavinga, cutting off a dangerous attack against the Verdiblancos, something that set Villamarín on fire and cost Carvalho a yellow card for his protests.
The second part began without changes but with high voltage in both teams. Courtois saved a long shot from Ruibal and then a run from Vinícius ended in a good shot from Benzema that forced Bravo into a great save.
The game went back and forth, very hot and with constant protests from each other. Borja Iglesias also took another yellow for protesting to the referee. In the middle of the maelstrom Courtois made a miraculous save to Borja Iglesias with a changed hand and in the next play Rodrygo gave a clear goal pass to Benzema, a candy that the Frenchman could not take advantage of, a demonstration that he is slow and lacking of spark.
Carvajal came on for Lucas Vázquez and the game entered the last half hour with everything to be decided. After a great gallop by Valverde, Rodrygo shot over the crossbar.
It was now the turn of Ceballos and Nacho for Tchouaméni, again grey, and Camavinga. Ceballos, ex-betico, took a monumental whistle when he left. At Betis, for his part, Willian José entered for Panda and Luiz Henrique for Ayoze. Precisely Luiz Henrique made a strong tackle on Vinícius, clearly deserving of a card and much protested by the whites.
Madrid attacked and attacked and Ceballos missed a clear goal in the 75th minute. Then, Bravo denied it to Vinícius. The last minutes were agonizing for both of them, with Betis very tired but Madrid increasingly without ideas or resources. He noticed that the League was going a little more. In the end, Álvaro Rodríguez even entered for Kroos. Vinícius ended up entangled with Bravo, saying everything. Betis escaped alive from Madrid.
