Real Madrid 0 - Betis 0

Madrid: Casillas; Michel Salgado, Sergio Ramos, Raúl Bravo (Mejía 50'), Roberto Carlos; Cicinho, Guti, Zidane, Robinho; Cassano (Baptista 70'), Raúl (Ronaldo 54'). 4-4-2.
Betis: Contreras; Varela, Juanito, Rivas, Luis Fernández (Nano 75'); Arzu, Rivera (Miguel Angel 70'); Joaquín (Dani 83'), Edu, Xisco; Robert. 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Madrid: Roberto Carlos, Robinho, Cassano for Mejía, Diogo, Baptista / Betis: Varela, Arzu, Robert for Melli, Capi, Dani.

Goals: None.

Another disappointing result for Real Madrid, who could only draw 0-0 at home to a struggling Betis side. López Caro left Ronaldo, Beckham and Gravesen on the bench, but their replacements fared no better, almost falling behind early on when Edu was presented with an open goal but steered a long shot just wide. Cassano headed wide at the other end and Cicinho caught Contreras off guard with a chip from out on the right which came back off the far post, but Joaquín came close at the other end with a run which ended with him shooting just past the upright.

López Caro rested a tired looking Raúl to bring on Ronaldo early in the second half, and the striker should have scored when he headed weakly straight at the keeper from a long cross. Sergio Ramos had had a goal correctly disallowed for offside shortly before, and Robinho should have passed to an unmarked Cicinho after a good run rather than carrying on himself, the ball in any case falling to the Brazilian full back who could only shoot straight at Contreras.

The best chance of the second half though fell to the visitors, Robert finding a gap to pick up a through ball only to come up against Casillas, Xisco firing the rebound wide with the keeper stranded. Cicinho did try his luck near the end with a long shot which Contreras turned away from the top corner of the net, but there was no way through. Madrid had dropped two more points in their race to catch Barcelona, and they ended the weekend eleven points adrift of their rivals, with Valencia and Osasuna breathing down their necks. Betis go home with a point which helps them in their fight to avoid relegation, although they remain in the bottom three for the time being.