DANI CEBALLOS SCORED a late winning free-kick against his old club as Real Madrid battled to a 2-1 La Liga victory at Real Betis.
Madrid had taken an early lead at the Benito Villamarin on Sunday thanks to a fine drive scored by Ballon d’Or winner Luka Modric.
But Sergio Canales hit back with a goal that survived a lengthy VAR review to seemingly claim a point for Quique Setien’s side.
Former Betis star Ceballos had other ideas, though, coming off the bench to net a 20-yard free-kick with two minutes to go to move Madrid up to fourth.
Madrid started well and they took the lead in the 13th minute, Modric blasting a drive into the top-left corner from just outside the penalty area.
Vinicius Junior fired straight at Pau Lopez at the end of a flowing move as Madrid kicked through the gears, Antonio Barragan making a wonderful challenge to halt another rapid break.
Canales recorded the first Betis shot on target two minutes into the second half but Keylor Navas, deputising for the injured Thibaut Courtois, got everything behind the shot.
Navas was beaten in the 67th minute, however, the impressive Giovani Lo Celso sending Canales clear of the Madrid defence to squeeze his shot through the goalkeeper and over the line.
The goal was subject to a lengthy VAR review, giving the home fans an agonising wait, but replays showed Dani Carvajal was playing Canales onside and the goal stood.
Solari ignored Isco as he used his last two subs to bring on Ceballos and Brahim Diaz for his La Liga debut, with the decision justified in the 88th minute.
William Carvalho gave away a free-kick on the edge of the Betis box and Ceballos took responsibility, bending the ball round the wall to beat Lopez.
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Chris Farrell is power of strength in the centre – let’s hope he plays as well as the MOTM performance from last year’s six nations (without the injury).
@Con Cussed: he wasn’t injured in that match only in training afterwards
Good to see Schmidt acknowledging that farrell was the right choice, nothing to do with henshaw. He’s dead right too, once ringrose was out go with the guy who’s been training in the position and hungry to get out there. I’m expecting a big game from farrell and I’ve every faith in him to deliver.
@Jim Demps: Same. It helps that he’s feckin huge as well.
@Jim Demps: Where does he acknowledge that Jim?
@Jim Demps: it is to do with Henshaw. Farrell would not be starting were it not for Henshaws injury
@Luke walkee: “ once Garry Ringrose was ruled out it was going to be about trying to keep some little continuity as best we can in a short space of time. You’ve got Chris farrell sitting in the wings massively motivated to do his best. So it’s a great opportunity to get him in and give him a run. “
@Jim Demps: That’s not what he acknowledged. Itching for a row today?
@Eddie Hekenui: It’s not even the right choice if you are using Jim’s criteria
@Eddie Hekenui: no row, genuinely think he made the right choice. Pick the guy who plays in the position. If it doesn’t work out then that’s on farrell.
@Jim Demps: That’s fair enough and I’d agree about picking Farrell ahead of Henshaw at 13 if both fit but Schmidt doesn’t acknowledge Farrell was the right choice, regardless of Henshaw. He says Henshaw might’ve played if it wasn’t for the knock
@Eddie Hekenui: my reading of his quote would be different but fair enough, don’t mind either way and I think the right decision was arrived at. The prospect of facing farrell is far more daunting for Scotland than Addison or henshaw I think.
@Jim Demps: Henshaw is a far better player than Farrell especially defensively
@Eddie Hekenui: surprised he didn’t actually say ‘carrying a bit of a niggle’, which is usually the code for being dropped.
Tom Farrell has put in two stellar seasons and this one he seems to of kicked on again,
he partners the only other fit first team center at provincial level (aki) and has clocked up huge minutes at 13.
injuries to 2 first line centers coupled with ; Chris Farrell (albeit a fantastic option) has played a handful of games since this time last year and a lot of these were not 80 min showings so you’d have to presume he is slightly under cooked.
With all these factors and his impact out west you would really have to question , how will he ever get a cap when the set of circumstances just listed still don’t allow for a look in.
I’m admittedly bias towards Tom Farrell as personally I think he is excellent but it must be hard argue against him having no chance to play his way in.
I am really worried about Henshaw`s injury problems he has not played three consecutive games since connacht won the pro 12.
@Michael Colleary: Reading between the lines it sounds as if Henshaw was dropped rather than unavailable since Schmidt said he could have played and he has form for citing the reason of a players exclusion as injury/fitness/minutes rather than a selection call.
He also suggested in the press conference he wasn’t planning to bring Rob Kearney back in this week but the cohesion was so poor last week he felt he had to, indicating disappointment with Henshaw.
@Rochelle: he literally says Henshaw would have played but he took another knock. You Munster fans are nuts, you believe Joe when it looks good on a Munster player, but he is taking BS when it comes to a Leinster player. If it was all about form C Farrell would have been 3rd choice
@Michael Colleary: That’s just not true. What a weird thing to make up.
@Rochelle: well said.