Betis 1 - Real Madrid 1

Betis: Contreras; Varela, Juanito, Lembo, Luis Fernández; Ito, Benjamín; Joaquín, Fernando (Capi 66'), Denilson (Tote 79'); Alfonso (Ismael 88'). 4-2-3-1.
Real Madrid: Casillas; Michel Salgado, Pavón (Solari 70'), Raúl Bravo, Roberto Carlos; Beckham, Iván Helguera; Figo, Raúl, Zidane; Ronaldo. 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Betis: Fernando, Denilson for Ismael, Tote / Madrid: Beckham for Guti.

Goals:
1-0. 33. Joaquín. Volleyed ball into net after Casillas pushed out Fernando shot.
1-1. 59. Ronaldo. Picked up long Zidane pass and rounded Contreras to score.

A second half goal from Ronaldo saved a point for Real Madrid at Betis, although it was not enough to take them back to the top of the table. Carlos Queiroz's side were given the run-around in the first half, and were lucky to be let off the hook by referee Losantos Omar when he turned down two early penalty appeals after Joaquín was brought down by Roberto Carlos and then Raúl Bravo. And they fell behind on the half hour mark when Joaquín volleyed the ball into the net after Casillas could only push out a long shot by Fernando.

Up to that point Madrid had not been in the game, but Ronaldo gave a warning of what was to come with a couple of efforts near the break. Figo brought a good save out of Contreras immediately after the restart, but Juanito should have extended the Asturians lead when he headed over the bar with the goal at his mercy. It was a vital miss, and soon afterwards Ronaldo levelled the scores with his 50th goal for his club in all competitions, picking up a long pass from Zidane and dribbling round Contreras to roll the ball into the net.

Madrid could have won it following a Beckham corner later on when Varela cleared Helguera's header off the line, but in the end they had to settle for a point which leaves them one behind Valencia, who they meet in the cup midweek.