Rodrygo scored the winner as Real Madrid made it four wins from four in La Liga on Saturday with a 2-1 victory that ended Real Betis’ perfect start to the season.
Vinicius Junior struck for the third game running as Madrid took an early lead at the Santiago Bernabeu, but Sergio Canales soon equalised with a goal against his former club.
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Rodrygo secured maximum points for Carlo Ancelotti’s side just past the hour with his first goal of the campaign. Madrid moved three points clear of second-placed Betis.
Playing at home for the first time this season as renovation work continues on their iconic ground, Madrid had a lucky early escape when Nabil Fekir appeared to be fouled in the area.
Madrid promptly inflicted a sucker punch as Vinicius raced onto David Alaba’s ball over the top, lobbing Betis goalkeeper Rui Silva for the opening goal. Betis, who began the season with wins over Elche, Mallorca and Osasuna, hit back when Borja Iglesias laid off a throw-in for Canales to drive through the legs of Thibaut Courtois.
Vinicius should have immediately restored Madrid’s lead, blazing over a cross from Rodrygo. Silva then made a miraculous stop to claw out Aurelien Tchouameni’s header.
The Betis keeper again got his fingers to a powerful effort from Luka Modric, but Rodrygo got the better of Silva when he slid home Fede Valverde’s pass on 65 minutes.
