Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) were dealt their first losses in their domestic leagues on Friday when Kylian Mbappe had an injury-time penalty saved in La Liga and PSG coughed up a lead in Ligue 1.
Madrid fell at Real Betis 1-0 for its first defeat since the return of coach Jose Mourinho.
PSG fell at home to Monaco 2-1 on the same day that coach Luis Enrique agreed to stay at the European champion through 2030.
Photo: AP
Betis stunned Madrid when newcomer Troy Parrott, an Irish striker, knocked in a ball that Thibaut Courtois did well to save from a header by a Betis teammate.
Madrid best chance to reply was not until Vinicius Junior earned a penalty when he was cut down by Natan in the box in injury time, but Betis goalkeeper Alvaro Valles smothered Mbappe’s spot kick, adding to his great performance.
Madrid had won its first three games in La Liga. Betis was coming off a shock 5-2 loss to Levante, after it had won twice.
Mbappe scored four goals in his previous two games, but the French star was off at La Cartuja Stadium. Besides wasting the penalty, he also squandered a great setup by Vinicius in the first half when he sent back-to-back shots into the bodies of Betis defenders.
“My team played a great game, and sometime 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.”
Next up for Madrid is a home game against Inter Milan in the opening round of the Champions League on Tuesday.
PSG looked to be on its way to its first win when Marquinhos put the host ahead in the 31st, but Monaco rallied with goals by Flavio Nazinho in the 58th and Stanis Idumbo in the 72nd.
Monaco leads Ligue 1 as the only team to win its first three games.
PSG had already drawn 2-2 with Rennes and Lille in its first two games. It also lost the French Super Cup to Lens 1-0 last month.
Its first league defeat came hours after the French powerhouse announced contract extensions for coach Luis Enrique.
Joao Neves, Lucas Beraldo, Senny Mayulu and Willian Pacho all got new deals through 2031, while Fabian Ruiz had his contract extended through 2028.
US striker Folarin Balogun was left out of Monaco’s squad after the collapse of his proposed transfer to Everton this week.
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