Real Betis v Real Madrid: La Liga – live!

81 min: Casemiro is carded after catching Guardado from behind.

Sergio Leon is now on for the Mexican. Tello is also on as Betis look to get back into it.

79 min: The ball is sent 50 yards over the top and Ronaldo races onto it but the assistant’s flag is wrongfully hoisted into the air, leaving the Portuguese to wag his finger in the air.

78 min: Isco swings in a free-kick from the left flank but it goes straight at Adan who gleefully holds onto the ball a yard off his line.

75 min: Javi Garcia is coming on for Jordi Amat. Not the most attacking change but there must be a plan.

73 min: Guardado has a cunning plan and shoots from his own half – it must be 60 yards out – as he spots Navas off his line. To be fair to the Mexican, the ball went just over the bar with the goalkeeper back peddling furiously.

Isco joins the party for Real Madrid as Bale departs.

71 min: The home team are enjoying some good possession in the final third but just can’t find the crucial opening to create a chance on goal.

69 min: Betis are doing their best to put some pressure on Real Madrid as the ball reaches Fabian who shoots off balance from 25 yards but as it’s curling towards the corner Navas dives full stretch and grabs hold of the effort.

Nick emails in about the West Ham supporter in the stands…

He says: “The guy in the West Ham cap knew this match was his only guarantee of an exciting game this season!! And he was correct!!”

GOAL! A great chip over the top from Casemiro lands at the feet of Ronaldo who cuts in onto his right foot and rifles one down the middle which isn’t far from Adan’s grasp but it was struck with such venom he couldn’t react in time.

He struck that well.

65 min: Betis need to find a way back into this. They look to have slowed a little since Madrid took the lead. Hopefully they have not exerted all of their energy.

The goal they’ve all been waiting for…

61 min: The ball is sent into the channel for Loren to chase. The forward almost gets there before Navas but the goalkeeper is quick enough and clears it but is caught by the Betis man for his troubles. Loren is booked for being a little late.

GOAL! Carvajal does wonderfully well down the right, skipping beyond one challenge before squaring the ball for Asensio who still had some work to do but he opened his body up and side-footed his shot beyond the diving Adan from eight yards.

A cunning finish.

57 min: Once again Bale gets beyond the Real Betis defence and tries to go round the goalkeeper, he shoots but Adan does well to recover and tip the ball wide. Inexplicably, the referee awards the goal-kick, much to the Welshman’s chagrin and he is booked for his protestations.

55 min: Ramos goes into the book for clumsily fouling Loren after getting too tight. Maybe it was a touch harsh.

Bale then breaks down the other end and is played through, his shot from a tight angle is well saved by the right-hand of Adan who spread himself well.

53 min: Real Madrid are offering far more intent in this period. Even the best teams need to put in some serious effort every now and again.

GOAL! The captain does it again for Real Madrid as Vazquez swings a corner into the box which Ramos attacks with gumption and viciously heads the ball in off the bar to level the scores.

A bullet header from Ramos.

49 min: Junior is the next man to be cautioned after he lashes out at Casemiro after losing possession.

48 min: Great build-up from Betis as they play it out from the back with Fabian running the whole length of the pitch before pulling it back for Guardado who swings his right foot at the ball but sends it well over from 20 yards.

47 min: Kovacic is booked for high studs on Loren. The midfielder complains but it was worthy of a yellow.

Peep! Peep! Here we go again!

The players are back on the pitch. Can Betis improve on their lead? Can Real Madrid get back into the match?

There is a bloke in the stands in a West Ham cap. He must be lost.

Nacho’s own goal was not exactly Pollock-esque but it did look quite funny in the end.

Zidane must need to implement a Plan B here, as Real Madrid are struggling. Ronaldo and Bale are not even close to getting into the game. How do you think he will change things?

Not a bad top five of creators in La Liga this century.

The professional view…

Many would have feared Real Madrid running away with the win. Instead, Betis have been the far better side and really deserve to be ahead. They have dominated possession and created two great chances which were reward with goals.

45+1 min: Just the one minute added on. The time here was sponsored by no one.

44 min: First booking for Betis of the day goes to Liverpool legend Barragan after he tripped Asensio as he was getting away from him.

42 min: Betis have been the better side since going behind. Real not really looking confident on the ball and scared when they are being attacked. To prove how ruffled they are, Vazquez runs over and pushes Bartra over for no reason.

Kiss your bicep…

40 min: How do Real Madrid get back into this? Modric might be needed to get on the ball and add an extra man to the centre of the park. Maybe he could come on for Vazquez and move Asensio up to be part of a front three.

GOAL! Betis break on Real Madrid and the ball is eventually played through to left-back Junior who made the run from the back and put his shot under Navas which then bounces off Nacho and into the net after he got behind his goalkeeper in the hope of stopping the goal.

Nacho sends the ball into his own goal.

36 min: An Asensio corner from the left swings its way onto Ronaldo’s head but his effort goes tamely straight at Adan. Moments later Ronaldo does get the ball into the net but it is rightly disallowed for offside.

GOAL! Real Madrid clear a corner but it ends up back with Joaquin who swings in a cross from the left which is perfect for Mandi who powers a header home from close range. Game on!

A great header from Mandi.

33 min: Ronaldo and Bale have started doing their fair share of defensive work as Real Madrid do their best to get back on top of this match.

31 min: Real Betis are on top here but one feels they really need to get a goal soon otherwise they might miss out on their best chance to get back into the match.

29 min: After telling the bench he should be given chance to carry on, the full-back is eventually replaced, much to his own frustration. Theo is on.

28 min: Marcelo has hobbled back onto the pitch for some reason or other as Theo Hernandez readies himself to come on.

27 min: Marcelo is down holding his right hamstring. Looks like it might be the end of his game. He is up on his feet but surely he will be wandering off the pitch.

26 min: Joaquin lines up a free-kick from 30 yards out in a central position and absolutely smashes it towards the top corner of Navas’s goal but the ‘keeper just about gets to it diving to his right and tips it over.

24 min: Loren picks up a pass 30 yards from goal, spins on it and fires a shot which goes just wide with Navas looking on concerned as it passes the post.

22 min: The hosts are looking the better of the two teams as they look to get the equaliser. Junior is looking dangerous for them down the left and could get more joy. The pressure almost results in a goal but Mandi glances a header just wide from a whipped Joaquin corner.