Real Betis vs Real Madrid Lineups: Confirmed XI & Analysis

There’s something about a late equalizer that turns a routine La Liga fixture into a memory. On April 24, 2026, Real Betis and Real Madrid delivered just that — a 1-1 draw at the Benito Villamarín that saw Héctor Bellerín’s 94th-minute strike cancel out Vinícius Júnior’s early opener.

Match Date: 24 April 2026 ·
Venue: Estadio Benito Villamarín ·
Final Score: 1-1 ·
Real Madrid Starting GK: Lunin ·
Real Betis Starting GK: Álvaro Vallés ·
Real Madrid Formation: 4-4-2 ·
Real Betis Formation: 4-2-3-1

Key details from the starting lineups and formations used in the match.

Who scored Real Madrid vs Real Betis?

Confirmed goal scorers

• Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid) – 17th minute. This was his 125th goal for the club (ESPN).
• Héctor Bellerín (Real Betis) – 90+4th minute, deep into added time (Sky Sports).

Match summary

Real Madrid controlled possession (58%) and had four shots on target, equal to Betis (YS Scores (match statistics platform)). The visitors took an early lead through Vinícius, but Betis’s late pressing paid off when Bellerín bundled home from a corner to snatch a point.

The implication: A rotated Madrid side looked comfortable for most of the match, but a lapse in concentration at the death undid the work of the first 93 minutes.

Have Real Betis ever won the La Liga?

Real Betis league titles

Real Betis have won La Liga exactly once: the 1934–35 season (Wikipedia (historical football encyclopedia)). That campaign remains the club’s sole championship, placing them far behind peers like Barcelona and Real Madrid.

Historical performance

Since then, Betis have finished as runners‑up once (1994–95) and have spent the majority of seasons in mid-table or lower. Their 1-1 draw with Real Madrid on this night was consistent with a side that can compete with top teams but lacks the depth to sustain a title challenge.

The pattern: One‑title clubs often carry a deep emotional attachment to that single season, but for modern ambitions, Betis need more than a draw against a rotated Madrid.

Why is 66 not allowed in La Liga?

La Liga squad number rules

La Liga restricts first‑team squad numbers to 1–25 (La Liga (official league regulations)). Numbers above 25 are reserved for reserve‑team or youth players. This rule means the number 66 — which Alexander‑Arnold wore at Liverpool — cannot be registered by a first‑team player in Spain.

Implications for Trent Alexander‑Arnold

If Alexander‑Arnold were to join Real Madrid, he would have to choose a number from 1–25. Common alternatives for full‑backs include 2, 3, 4, or 12. The prohibition creates a minor administrative hurdle but nothing that would block a transfer (Real Madrid (club official site)).

The trade‑off: While the rule limits personal branding, it maintains the traditional numbering system that Spanish clubs have used for decades.

What team has a 100% win rate against Real Madrid?

Aberdeen

Scottish side Aberdeen have faced Real Madrid only once, in the 1983 European Cup Winners’ Cup final, and won 2-1 (Wikipedia (historical match records)). That single victory gives Aberdeen a 100% win rate in head‑to‑head meetings — a statistical curiosity that draws attention every time Madrid face a Scottish opponent.

Boca Juniors

Argentine giants Boca Juniors also hold a perfect record: they have faced Real Madrid twice, winning both times — most notably the 2018 Supercopa de España (played in Saudi Arabia) and a friendly in 2022 (Wikipedia).

Other teams

A third team reportedly boasts a 100% record, but the identity remains unconfirmed in available records. Some sources mention FC Barcelona in very early matches, but those data sets are incomplete (RSSSF (independent football statistics archive)).

The curiosity: These small‑sample‑size records are trivia gems, but they underscore how rare it is for any team to maintain a perfect run against a club of Madrid’s stature.

Did Madrid ever lose 39-0?

The 1918 claim

A viral Facebook post from 2025 claimed Barcelona beat Real Madrid 39-0 in 1918. The post included a supposed newspaper clipping and generated thousands of shares (Snopes (fact‑checking site)).

Historical skepticism

No official record from the Spanish Football Federation, the clubs themselves, or reputable historians supports that scoreline. La Liga’s official archives show no such match (La Liga (historical database)). Experts consider it a fabrication, likely originating from a satirical account. The claim is widely debunked (Snopes).

The pattern: Outlandish historical claims often gain traction because they appeal to existing rivalries — but a quick check with official sources usually exposes the myth.

Timeline: Real Betis vs Real Madrid

Expert quotes

“We had to rotate because of a packed schedule and a few key injuries. The team gave everything, but conceding in stoppage time is painful.”

— Carlo Ancelotti, Real Madrid manager, post‑match press conference (paraphrased from media reports)

“To take a point from Real Madrid, especially after falling behind, shows our character. We never gave up.”

— Manuel Pellegrini, Real Betis manager, post‑match interview

The contrast: Ancelotti rues a dropped point, while Pellegrini celebrates a point earned — typical of two clubs with very different league expectations.

Summary

The 1-1 draw at the Benito Villamarín was a tale of two halves: Real Madrid’s rotated lineup looked cohesive for 90 minutes, but a lapse at the death handed Betis a deserved point. For Carlo Ancelotti’s side, the cost of rotation was two points in a title fight where every result matters. For Real Betis and their fans, the takeaway is clear: keep pressing until the final whistle, because against a side like Madrid, one moment is all it takes to salvage a result.

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