Real Madrid 4 - Betis 1

Real Madrid: Casillas; Miñambres, Hierro (Pavón 74'), Iván Helguera, Roberto Carlos; Makelele, Cambiasso (McManaman 81'); Figo, Raúl, Zidane; Ronaldo (Solari 89'). 4-2-3-1.
Betis: Prats; Varela, Arzu, Filipescu, Luis Fernández; Marcos Assunçao, Cañas (Maldonado 78'); Joaquín, Capi, Denilson; Fernando (Calado 85'). 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Madrid: Miñambres, Makelele for Michel Salgado, Flavio Conceiçao / Betis: Luis Fernández, Fernando for Melli, Joao Tomas.

Goals:
0-1. 37. Fernando. Turned ball in off Helguera after Denilson crossed in from left.
1-1. 44. Raúl. Collected pass from Helguera and turned to shoot low past Prats.
2-1. 49. Figo (penalty). Roberto Carlos felled by Luis Fernández on edge of area.
3-1. 61. Zidane. Cut in from left to take Ronaldo return pass and beat Prats.
4-1. 88. Ronaldo. Following up after Prats blocked his penalty kick.

Real Madrid came back from a goal down to beat Betis 4-1 and move to within two points of leaders Real Sociedad. After three draws in a row, Del Bosque's side were looking for a victory to get their title challenge back on track, but they found themselves up against it in the opening minutes, with Denilson sending a shot crashing against the post after a good run by Joaquín. Víctor Fernández had lined up without a recognised centre forward, ex Real Madrid youngster Fernando taking up the striker role, and he took advantage to open the scoring eight minutes before half time, getting ahead of Iván Helguera to turn Denilson's cross past Iker Casillas.

Raúl has been having problems finding the net in recent weeks, and having missed an early chance, he had a possible goal disallowed a few minutes later for offside. Eventually though he did break his drought, picking up a through ball from Helguera to hold off Filipescu and hit a low shot past Prats. Four minutes after the restart Madrid were in front, Figo scoring from the penalty spot after Roberto Carlos had been bundled over on the edge of the area by Cañas. And on the hour mark Zidane made it three with the best goal of the night, taking a return pass from Ronaldo and curling an effortless right foot shot past the keeper.

Del Bosque suffered a blow a few minutes later though when Hierro injured his knee after running in to Denilson, and he could be out for a few weeks. Pavón was an able replacement though, and even though Betis threw on an extra forward, B team youngster Maldonado, there was not much threat to Casillas. Three minutes from the end Ronaldo burst free in front of goal and Prats had no option but to bring him down, the keeper lucky to get away with only a yellow card. Figo handed the ball to Ronaldo, and although Prats guessed correctly and blocked the kick with his feet, the Brazilian striker picked up the rebound and ghosted round the keeper to score.