Kylian Mbappé has late penalty saved in Real Madrid loss at Betis

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Kylian Mbappé stutter-stepped in his runup, aimed for the lower left side of the net — and watched as Real Betis’ goalkeeper leapt to smother his penalty shot.

Moments later, the whistle blew at La Cartuja Stadium. Madrid lost its first match in Jose Mourinho’s return to the bench this season.

Álvaro Valles' save of Mbappé’s injury-time penalty kick secured an unexpected 1-0 win for the host in La Liga on Friday.

Valles capped his outstanding performance, which included a diving swat of an early header by Jude Bellingham among other saves, with his biggest save of the night.

Mbappé looked set to cancel out Troy Parrott's 81st-minute goal when he stepped to the spot. Vinícius Júnior earned the penalty when he dribbled down the left side of the endline and Betis defender Natan rashly slid into him.

Valles said he had studied Mbappé’s penalties and guessed correctly he would go to his Valles’ right side. Valles celebrated with a roar — and a little chest bump into a stunned-looking Mbappé.

“We were sure we had it, but of course you also need a bit of luck,” Valles said about predicting Mbappé's strike. “He is very good at trying to make you commit early and not showing you where he is aiming. I was fortunate to stop it.”

Mbappé has made a strong start to the season, scoring in two of three games, including one hat trick.

But he was far from his best in Seville. Besides the penalty miss, he also squandered a double chance in the first half after Vinícius set him up with Valles drawn out of position. Both of Mbappe’s back-to-back attempts hit a different Betis defender. Mbappé also had a shot that glanced the goal frame.

Mbappé led the World Cup in scoring this summer and will get a chance to redeem himself for Madrid when it hosts Inter Milan in their Champions League opener on Tuesday.

See AP’s full soccer coverage here

Betis' Diego Llorente, right, challenges Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Betis and Real Madrid in Seville, Spain, Friday, Sept. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Jose Breton)

Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe, left, attempts a shot on goal during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Betis and Real Madrid in Seville, Spain, Friday, Sept. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Jose Breton)

Betis' goalkeeper Alvaro Valles, right, blocks a shot by Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe, center, during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Betis and Real Madrid in Seville, Spain, Friday, Sept. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Jose Breton)

Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe fails a chance to score from the penalty spot during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Betis and Real Madrid in Seville, Spain, Friday, Sept. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Jose Breton)

Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe, left, reacts after missing a penalty kick in front of Betis' goalkeeper Alvaro Valles during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Betis and Real Madrid in Seville, Spain, Friday, Sept. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Jose Breton)

BALTIMORE (AP) — Mickey Gasper hit a first-inning home run, Ranger Suarez gave up five hits in seven innings, and benches cleared after a contentious eighth-inning double play as the Boston Red Sox beat the Baltimore Orioles 1-0 on Friday night.

Gasper now has eight home runs this season, all in his last 16 games.

Suarez (6-4) struck out three, walked one and all five hits he allowed were singles.

Aroldis Chapman worked the ninth for his 32nd save of the season and the 399th os his career as Boston improved to 2-0 during this four-game set.

Benches and bullpens emptied in the eighth after Red Sox reliever Garrett Whitlock induced Luis Robert Jr. into an inning-ending double play and Red Sox shortstop Trevor Story appeared to take issue with Blaze Alexander's slide into second.

Gasper had two of the four hits off Orioles starter Shane Baz (5-15). His first-inning shot off Baz's first-pitch fastball cleared the out-of-town scoreboard and continued one of baseball's more unlikely power streaks. Before being recalled from Triple-A Worcester on Aug. 16, the 30-year-old Gasper had homered only twice in 240 career at-bats.

Baz struck out six and walked two in 6 1/3 innings while tying Cleveland’s Tanner Bibee for the most losses in the majors. He has received MLB’s second worst run-support (3.02 runs per 9 IP), ahead of only Bibee.

Baltimore finished 0 for 3 with runners in scoring position while sinking to a fourth consecutive defeat. With the loss, the Orioles lost ground in the chase for the final AL wild-card spot.

Red Sox RHP Sonny Gray (16-4, 2.82 ERA) will try to add to what was an AL-leading wins total entering Friday. He'll face O's veteran righty Chris Bassitt (6-4, 4.97), who will be going for his third straight win.

See AP’s full MLB coverage here

Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Shane Baz, left, talks with catcher Carlos Narváez (75) during a mound visit in the third inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox, Friday, Sept. 4, 2026, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Ranger Suarez delivers during the second inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Friday, Sept. 4, 2026, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Boston Red Sox's Mickey Gasper rounds the bases after hitting a home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Friday, Sept. 4, 2026, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Boston Red Sox's Mickey Gasper rounds the bases after hitting a home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Friday, Sept. 4, 2026, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)