Real Madrid's Perfect Start Ends with Defeat to Real Betis as PSG Suffer Loss to Monaco

Real Madrid’s perfect start in La Liga ⁠ended on Friday when Real Betis beat them 1-0, with the ⁠substitute Troy Parrott ⁠scoring ​nine minutes from time and goalkeeper Álvaro Valles saving a stoppage-time ⁠penalty from Kylian Mbappé.

The clash began at a high tempo but the pace ⁠dropped after the interval in the heat in ​Seville. The Republic of Ireland star Parrott, introduced ‌in the 68th ‌minute, broke the deadlock in the 81st when ‌he reacted quickly after Thibaut Courtois parried a header into his path.

Mbappé struck the crossbar four minutes later before the substitute Carlos Espí met a cross from Vinícius Júnior with a spectacular bicycle kick, only for the equaliser to be ruled ​out for offside following a VAR review.

Nelson Deossa then nearly sealed the victory for hosts Betis with a long-range effort after spotting Courtois ⁠off his line, but the goalkeeper recovered to ​make ​the save.

José Mourinho’s Madrid got one ​final opportunity when Natan brought down ​Vinícius inside ‌the area, ​deep ​into stoppage time, but Valles saved Mbappé’s spot-kick to preserve Betis’s lead and secure the three points.

“My team played a great game, and sometimes you lose and you don’t know why,” Mourinho said. “We dominated, controlling everything, lots of attacks, lots of chances. If we had drawn we would have been left frustrated, so imagine how we feel after losing.

“I don’t know how we lost because we played very well collectively. I cannot fault the attitude of any of my players. We deserved to win but deserving to win does not ⁠give you points. I’m very happy with ​my players, all ​of them. I cannot fault ​any of them individually. As for the penalty, when ​one of us ‌steps up to ​take it, ​we all stand together.

“The Betis players are more streetwise than the Madrid players, who are very honest. With the backing of a fantastic crowd, they manage to gain these kinds of advantages.”

Paris Saint-Germain looked to be on their way to their first Ligue 1 win of the season when Marquinhos put the hosts ahead in the 31st minute, but Monaco rallied with goals from Flavio Nazinho in the 58th minute and Stanis Idumbo in the 72nd. Monaco lead the table as the only team to win their opening three games.

“We clearly deserved to win. That is my opinion,” said Luis Enrique.

“I saw the game and it was the typical game in which we were better than the opposition and created a lot more chances, but the opposition goalkeeper was the best player on the pitch.”

The US striker Folarin Balogun was left out of Monaco’s squad after the collapse of his proposed transfer to Everton this week, while Lamine Camara played after his move to Chelsea was called off at the last minute.

PSG had already drawn 2-2 with Rennes and Lille in their first two games and also lost the French Super Cup to Lens 1-0 last month.

The first league defeat came hours after PSG announced contract extensions for coach Luis Enrique and several players. João Neves, Lucas Beraldo, Senny Mayulu and Willian Pacho all signed new deals through to 2031, while Fabián Ruiz had his contract extended until 2028.

Lyon beat Auxerre 3-1 earlier on Friday and are second in the league, two points behind Monaco and level on points with Lille, who won 1-0 at Toulouse on Thursday thanks to an Ayase Ueda goal.

Assane Diao bagged a brace as Como rolled to a 4-1 win at Genoa in Serie A. Nico Paz and Martin Baturina also added goals. Cesc Fabregas’ side lead the Italian standings by one point ahead of a pack of six teams who have yet to play this weekend.

Como will make their Champions League debut against Leipzig on 10 September, with Manchester United to visit in October and PSG in January.