Real Betis edged Getafe 1-0 in Madrid, with Abde Ezzalzouli scoring after a VAR check confirmed no handball. Betis now sits even with Real Madrid in second place, just behind Barcelona.
Real Betis left Madrid with a 1-0 win over Getafe, moving them level on points with Real Madrid in the La Liga table. The only goal came just before halftime, when Abde Ezzalzouli scored after a video review confirmed the play was legal. Both BBC Sport and ESPN reported that VAR ruled out any handball in the buildup, allowing the goal to stand.
Ezzalzouli finished from the center of the box after a cross from Troy Parrott on the left. The referee paused before awarding the goal, but VAR confirmed there was no handball. José María Sánchez Martínez refereed the match, with José Antonio López Toca handling VAR decisions.
Before this match, Betis had collected 12 points from their first five games, entering the fixture on a positive run of form.
Getafe goalkeeper David Soria was busy throughout, making several important saves. He managed to tip a low shot from Betis forward Antony onto the post, keeping the score close. Parrott nearly doubled the lead with a long-range attempt from midfield that just missed.
Getafe’s chances faded late when Mario Martín was sent off with a second yellow card in the 87th minute, leaving them with ten men. This is confirmed by official match statistics from BBC and ESPN. Despite a late push, Getafe could not break through Betis’s defense, and the visitors took all three points.
Betis and Real Madrid now both have 15 points, trailing Barcelona, who lead the league with 18. The top of La Liga is tight, and every point is starting to matter more as the season goes on. AFP’s league table shows Betis closing the gap on the leaders, underlining how competitive the race has become.
The match was played at Estadio Benito Villamarín, with the VAR review process and referee decisions playing a crucial role in the outcome. Official sources confirm that the only goal was awarded after a thorough VAR check, and the late red card for Mario Martín was a key moment in the closing stages.
Elsewhere, Villarreal picked up their first win of the season by coming from behind to beat Málaga 3-1 away. Pape Gueye scored twice, and Alberto Moleiro added another after Málaga had taken the lead through Carlos Dotor. Málaga remains winless since returning to the top division.
For a look at how Spanish football has changed local communities, the recent exhibition in Bilbao offers a visual history of the sport’s impact across Spain.
Betis’s ability to hold on in tense matches shows a team growing in confidence and discipline. With the league table tightening, the next few weeks will reveal if Betis can keep pace with Spain’s top clubs. Their recent form, built on resilience and sharp execution, puts them firmly in the mix as the season unfolds.
