MADRID: Real Madrid suffered a shock 1-0 home defeat to Real Betis on Wednesday as an inspired performance from their former goalkeeper Antonio Adan and a stoppage-time winner from Antonio Sanabria stunned the La Liga champions.

Paraguayan striker Sanabria had an effort disallowed for offside in the final minute of normal time, but rose highest to head in a 94th-minute winner from Antonio Barragan’s cross to secure a memorable backs-to-the-wall victory for Quique Setien’s side.

Even the presence of Cristiano Ronaldo on his return from a five-match domestic ban couldn’t break Betis’ resistance as Adan produced stunning saves from Isco, Toni Kroos and Gareth Bale.

The result ended European champions Real’s streak of 73 consecutive games scoring at least one goal, keeping them from surpassing the record scoring run established by Brazilian club Santos starring Pele in 1963.

“Last year we won games we didn’t deserve to and now it is the reverse,” said Real coach Zinedine Zidane.

The defeat leaves Real without a win in their three league games so far at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium and in seventh place in the table, seven points behind leaders Barcelona, who beat Eibar 6-1 on Tuesday, their fifth straight win.

“This gap to the lead won’t change the way we do things,” Zidane said. “We will keep fighting. The league is very long, in the end we’ll see how it goes but we need to be calm and we know we will have better days.”

It is the first time Betis have won at the Bernabeu since 1998.

“It is impossible to win here without suffering,” said Betis boss Setien. “To win against a team like this, your goalie has to have a spectacular game and you have to have luck.”

Atletico Madrid continued their undefeated start to the season with a 2-1 victory away to Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday to move up to third, within four points of Barca, while Sevilla’s 1-0 triumph at home to Las Palmas left the Andalusian outfit second on 13 points.

Alaves remain without a point or even a goal after five games as Luisinho’s winner handed Deportivo la Coruna a 1-0 win for their first victory of the season. Leganes stay in the top half after a 0-0 draw at home to Girona.

Published in Dawn, September 22nd, 2017