Mbappe misses 94th-minute penalty as Real Madrid suffer first loss under Mourinho at Betis

A night at Benito Villamarin seemed destined to end in another late twist when Mbappe stepped up for a 94th-minute penalty. The French forward's shot came back off the crossbar, and Real Madrid walked off with a 0-1 defeat against Real Betis — Mourinho's first loss since returning to the Santiago Bernabéu dugout. Mourinho had won his first three La Liga games in the 2026/26 season. Betis, managed by Manuel Pellegrini, produced a disciplined defensive display and waited for their moment. Troy Parrott, introduced in the 68th minute, scored the only goal in the 81st minute after Real Madrid's defense was caught out of shape. Pellegrini didn't need dominance in possession. Betis used selective pressing and quick transitions. The summer signing, Parrott, proved why the club had waited for him. The transfer window is not a battle of wallets; it is a contest of those who know how to wait. Real Madrid pushed hard in stoppage time. Natan conceded a penalty in the 90+4 minute, but Mbappe's spot-kick cannoned off the crossbar. Data doesn't lie, but it knows how to hide inside standard deviations. Mbappe has been reliable from the penalty spot this season — that miss was a true outlier. The defeat leaves Real Madrid on nine points, level with Betis. Barcelona can move to twelve and open a three-point gap if they win on Sunday. Mourinho's side was not poor overall. The real issue was finishing and decision-making in the final third. Betis were compact, confident, and efficient in transition. They won by controlling spaces with intention — something Real Madrid failed to do in the decisive moments. Mourinho knows a matchday-four defeat does not decide the title. A World Cup never ends at the final; it only changes into another jersey. The title race remains open, and Real Madrid’s response in the next round will shape their season.