Real Madrid failed to win a third consecutive competitive fixture for the first time this season, after they were held to a 0-0 La Liga draw away at Real Betis and saw several match-winning opportunities pass them by on a frustrating night in Andalusia.
After a narrow 1-0 Copa Del Rey semi-final first-leg defeat to eternal rivals Barcelona in midweek, Real sorely needed a victory to keep up with the league leaders.
Betis had the first opportunity of the match, as Ayoze Pérez stung Thibaut Courtois’ right palm from distance, but it was the visitors who apparently took the lead shortly before the 15-minute mark.
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With the scoresheet subsequently unchanged, the rest of the opening period provided little in the way of clear-cut opportunities, although Federico Valverde went close with a long-range drive.
In the absence of the highly-instrumental Nabil Fekir, who picked up a season-ending injury in the victory over Elche last week, the Verdiblancos struggled to find a final killer pass despite working themselves into some promising positions all the way up to HT.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side only grew in dominance as the half progressed, but a combination of poor end product and a determined backline ultimately prevented them from picking up what would have been a valuable three points.
