Jose Mourinho said Real Madrid were outmanoeuvred by a more streetwise Real Betis side after their perfect start to the 2026/27 LaLiga season ended with a 1-0 defeat in Andalucia.
The result was Real Madrid’s first loss under Mourinho, who had seen his team win each of their opening three matches. Their failure to respond to the demands of a physical and competitive contest left the manager frustrated after Real Betis claimed all three points.
Former Tottenham striker Troy Parrott scored the only goal of the game after coming on as a substitute. The Republic of Ireland forward, who joined Real Betis from AZ Alkmaar last month, registered his first goal for the club.
Real Madrid had opportunities to avoid defeat but Kylian Mbappe’s late penalty was saved. Carlos Espi also appeared to have rescued a point with a spectacular equaliser, only for the goal to be ruled out for offside following a VAR review.
Mourinho was critical of his side’s approach in his post-match news conference, arguing that Real Betis had used their experience more effectively in a closely fought match.
“The Betis players were cleverer than us. They were more more streetwise than the Madrid players, who are very honest.”
The Portuguese manager also pointed to the influence of the home support, saying the atmosphere helped Real Betis gain an advantage in the key moments.
“With the backing of a fantastic crowd, they managed to gain these kinds of advantages.”
Mourinho suggested Real Madrid’s players had been too accepting of challenges and incidents during the match, while their opponents were more prepared to put pressure on the referee.
“Madrid's players were naive. Betis players tried to impact the referee, but Madrid's players, when something deserved a yellow card, they got straight back up. When you play teams with this mentality, it's an important factor.”
The defeat ended Real Madrid’s 100% record at the beginning of the new campaign and denied them a fourth consecutive victory. Their unbeaten start under Mourinho had included three wins before the trip to Andalucia.
Despite the missed penalty and the disallowed goal, Mourinho believed Real Betis had not created enough to deserve the result. He said the hosts had prioritised avoiding defeat and benefited from the way the match eventually developed.
“They played for a draw and got lucky in the end.”
The outcome leaves Real Madrid needing to respond after an otherwise flawless opening to Mourinho’s time in charge. Real Betis, meanwhile, secured victory through Parrott’s first goal for the club and ended Madrid’s early momentum.