Betis equalizes in stoppage time and deals blow to Real Madrid slim title hopes

SEVILLE, Spain (AP) — Real Madrid’s already slim hopes of winning La Liga were dealt another blow when Real Betis scored a stoppage-time equalizer in a pulsating 1-1 result on Friday.

Madrid was left trailing league leader Barcelona by eight points with only five games to play. Barcelona has a game in hand at Getafe on Saturday.

The match started well for visiting Madrid as Vinicius Junior scored for the second time in four days. Betis goalkeeper Álvaro Valles could only parry Federico Valverde’s long range shot and the Brazilian striker followed up to slot in the rebound.

Betis, though, was not overawed and Andriy Lunin, in goal for the injured Thibaut Courtois, made at least two world-class saves to keep his side in the game.

At the other end, Kylian Mbappé had a goal chalked off for offside, annulling a superb assist from Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Betis kept pushing for an equalizer and it came in the dying seconds.

Ferland Mendy went down and appealed for a foul but the referee waved play on and former Arsenal defender Héctor Bellerín calmly side-footed home inside a packed penalty area to the delight of the 54,000 fans at Betis’ Estadio La Cartuja.

The result meant Madrid has failed to win five of its last six games in all competitions.

Betis, meanwhile, was in fifth place, six points ahead of Getafe and seven behind Atletico Madrid.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Real Madrid's goalkeeper Andriy Lunin saves during a La Liga soccer match between Real Betis and Real Madrid in Seville, Spain, Friday, April 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Jose Breton)

Betis' Diego Llorente , left, and Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior fight for the ball during a La Liga soccer match between Real Betis and Real Madrid in Seville, Spain, Friday, April 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Jose Breton)

Real Betis players celebrate after scoring during a La Liga soccer match between Real Betis and Real Madrid in Seville, Spain, Friday, April 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Jose Breton)

Real Madrid's Gonzalo Garcia argues with a referee after a La Liga soccer match between Real Betis and Real Madrid in Seville, Spain, Friday, April 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Jose Breton)

Real Madrid players stand dejected after a La Liga soccer match between Real Betis and Real Madrid in Seville, Spain, Friday, April 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Jose Breton)

CHENNAI, India (AP) — Sai Sudharsan continued his fine form with 87 runs off 46 balls as Gujarat Titans strolled to an eight-wicket win over host Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League on Sunday.

Sudharsan, who scored a hundred in the previous game against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, hit seven sixes and four fours as Gujarat finished its successful chase on 162-2 in 16.4 overs in reply to Chennai’s 158-7.

Apart from undefeated opener Ruturaj Gaikwad (74 not out off 60 balls), it was another top-order failure for Chennai, which was put in to bat and reduced to 37-4 in 8.2 overs. Despite Gaikwad’s resistance, the hosts were unable to recover. Kagiso Rabada picked up 3-25 in four overs for Gujarat.

Gujarat moved to fifth in the standings with its fourth win in eight games. It was a fifth loss for Chennai in eight games as it slipped to sixth with six points.

In Sunday’s evening game, Lucknow Super Giants hosts Kolkata Knight Riders in a bottom-of-the-table clash. Lucknow won the toss and opted to bowl.

Rabada struck first when Chennai in-form batter Sanju Samson was caught behind for 11 in the fourth over. Urvil Patel was caught for four three balls later.

Sarfaraz Khan fell to Mohammed Siraj for a golden duck, with left-arm spinner Manav Suthar claiming Dewald Brevis for two. Chennai’s powerplay yielded only 28-3.

Gaikwad fought his own poor form to reach a sedate 50 off 49 balls, but he was not able to gain any scoring momentum. Shivam Dube’s 22 and Karthik Sharma’s 15 helped push the score past 150.

Gujarat’s top order made short work of the chase. Shubman Gill scored 33, putting on 58 for the opening wicket with Sudharsan, who hit 50 off 33 balls.

Jos Buttler contributed 39 not out, adding 97 off 60 balls with Sudharsan, as the Titans polished off the easy win with 20 balls to spare.

AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket

Chennai Super Kings' captain Ruturaj Gaikwad bats during the Indian Premier League cricket match between Chennai Super Kings and Gujarat Titans in Chennai, India, Sunday, April 26, 2026. (AP Photo)

Gujarat Titans' Kagiso Rabada gestures in the field during the Indian Premier League cricket match between Chennai Super Kings and Gujarat Titans in Chennai, India, Sunday, April 26, 2026. (AP Photo)

Gujarat Titans' Sai Sudharsan plays a shot during the Indian Premier League cricket match between Chennai Super Kings and Gujarat Titans in Chennai, India, Sunday, April 26, 2026. (AP Photo)

Gujarat Titans' Sai Sudharsan plays a shot during the Indian Premier League cricket match between Chennai Super Kings and Gujarat Titans in Chennai, India, Sunday, April 26, 2026. (AP Photo)