Rodrygo winner helps Real Madrid maintain perfect start v Betis

MADRID : Real Madrid preserved their perfect start to the LaLiga season as they beat Betis 2-1 thanks to a second-half winner from Rodrygo at the Bernabeu on Saturday, keeping the defending Spanish and European champions at the top of the table.

Real struck first when David Alaba passed to Vinícius Jr with a magnificent long ball in the 9th minute, and the Brazilian raced forward and lobbed the ball over Betis keeper Rui Silva’s head.

Betis responded eight minutes later when Real Madrid academy alumni Sergio Canales smashed an equalizer in between Thibaut Courtois legs.

Carlo Ancelotti's team fought back with a vengeance but missed several opportunities until they finally managed to break the deadlock in the 65th minute, when Rodrygo thumped home a close-range finish from a Federico Valverde cross.

Real Madrid now top the table on 12 points, the only team to win all of their first four games.

Second-placed Betis have nine points after their first defeat, two in front of Barcelona, Villarreal and Athletic Bilbao who still have a game in hand.