Leaders On Saturday, Real Madrid drew 1-1 against Real Betis after Aitor Ruibal’s spectacular shot cancelled out Jude Bellingham’s league-leading 12th goal of the season.
After a wonderful combination with Brahim Diaz, Bellingham put Madrid up early in the second half at the Benito Villamarin.
However, Ruibal’s angled volley into the top corner from outside the area earned Betis a point and extended their unbeaten streak in La Liga to 11 games.
“It was a good game, competitive and even, and the result is a fair one,” Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti remarked.
“I’m satisfied because you’re not always going to be able to win every game.”
Madrid moved one point ahead of Girona, but could lose top spot if the surprise contenders beat Barcelona in a Catalan derby on Sunday.
The visitors thought they had taken the lead when Diaz scored from close range after a brilliant play between Bellingham and Rodrygo on 16 minutes.
Bellingham backheeled the pass to Rodrygo, who slid the ball between a defender’s knees. A clearance effort ricocheted off Rodrygo, leaving Diaz with a tap-in, but the Brazilian was offside in the build-up.
Betis went close to a fifth consecutive home league win, as Ayoze Perez saw an effort superbly saved by Andriy Lunin before Willian Jose bent an effort well wide of the far post.
Betis keeper Rui Silva saved a long-range shot from Luka Modric, but he couldn’t prevent Bellingham from breaking the deadlock eight minutes after halftime.
The England midfielder recovered the ball near the touchline deep in Betis territory, finding Diaz and chesting down the scooped return pass as he advanced into the area and stroked past Silva.
Madrid’s lead lasted only 13 minutes, as Ruibal was given much too much time and space before firing home from 20 metres for his first league goal in two and a half years.
Both clubs sought for a winner, and former Real Madrid attacker Isco almost undid his former club by heading against the post.
At the other end, Joselu dribbled an agonisingly wide shot in stoppage time before Lunin pushed over centre-back Chadi Riad’s header with the game’s final touch.
“Nobody can say it’s a bad point against Real Madrid, but I think we deserved the three points,” Betis coach Manuel Pellegrini remarked.
Las Palmas resumed their promising run in the top division, winning 1-0 at Alaves thanks to a goal from Kirian Rodriguez, moving them back up to eighth position.
Barcelona can close the deficit on Madrid to two points if they win Girona on Sunday, while Atletico Madrid will look to rebound from last weekend’s loss at Montjuic when they face bottom club Almeria.