Real Betis Begin 2026 with Heavy Loss at Santiago Bernabéu

Difficult Start to the New Year for Real Betis

Real Betis kicked off 2026 with a challenging fixture against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu, resulting in a 5-1 defeat on 4 January. The match marked LaLiga’s 18th matchday and proved to be a difficult outing for the Seville-based club, who faced a rampant Real Madrid side looking to close the gap on league leaders Barcelona.

Match Analysis and Key Moments

Gonzalo García proved instrumental for Real Madrid with a ‘perfect’ hat trick, scoring with his head, right foot, and a backheel. Cucho Hernández pulled one back for Betis in the 66th minute, providing a brief moment of hope. However, the visitors struggled to contain the home side’s attacking prowess. Manager Manuel Pellegrini did not attempt to soften the blow after the match, delivering a blunt assessment of his team’s performance at Spain’s iconic stadium.

Current Season Standing and Future Outlook

Real Betis Balompié is a professional football club based in Seville, Spain, founded in 1907 and playing in La Liga. The club finished in sixth place last season and find themselves in the same spot at the start of 2026. Despite this setback, Betis maintains a respectable position in the league standings. The defeat serves as a reminder of the challenge facing Manuel Pellegrini’s side as they compete against Spain’s elite clubs. With the season far from over, Real Betis will look to regroup and maintain their top-six position whilst competing in multiple competitions including the UEFA Europa League.