Real Madrid's First Defeat Under Mourinho: When Control Fails to Convert into Victory at La Cartuja

Real Madrid suffered their first defeat under Jose Mourinho's second stint at the club, losing 0-1 to Real Betis at La Cartuja stadium. Despite dominating possession at 68% and creating 14 shots with 5 on target, Madrid failed to convert their dominance into goals. Mourinho, who returned to guide Los Blancos in this campaign, admitted post-match that he could not explain the loss, stating his team fully controlled the match and created numerous attacking opportunities. The Portuguese coach notably declined to blame officiating, refused to criticize his players, and instead pointed to a lack of "street wisdom" among his squad compared to the more tactically cunning Betis players. He cited specific examples including Federico Valverde being stepped on early in the match without drawing a card, while Betis players exaggerated contact to gain tactical advantages. Mourinho emphasized he meant no criticism of his players' work rate or commitment, clarifying that "naivety" referred to their inability to exploit certain game situations. The defeat leaves Real Madrid facing questions about their ability to convert dominance into results, while Betis secured a memorable victory through pragmatic, efficient football.