Real Madrid’s Title Hopes Dented by Shock Defeat to Real Betis
Real Madrid’s pursuit of the La Liga title suffered a major setback following their 2-1 defeat to Real Betis on March 1. Despite taking an early lead through Brahim Diaz, Los Blancos failed to maintain control, allowing Betis to stage a comeback and secure all three points.
Alaba’s Struggles Under the Spotlight
One of the biggest talking points from the match was David Alaba’s underwhelming performance. The Austrian defender struggled throughout the game, failing to make a single tackle or win any duels. His performance drew heavy criticism from both fans and analysts, sparking debate over his place in the team.
Many supporters voiced their frustrations online, with some calling for Alaba to be dropped—or even sold. Franklin Akins tweeted:
“Alaba needs to go. Ancelotti is complicating things for himself. Asensio has been solid defensively, yet didn’t start. It was such a poor performance.”
Another fan, Dark_sheriff44, expressed similar frustration, writing:
“Awful match… Modric should not start again, Alaba should never play again, Vazquez, please don’t play again, Valverde, we need you, Bellingham, I miss you.”
Others questioned whether Alaba’s return to the squad was actually harming the team. Belligold tweeted:
“Vini, this is getting embarrassing. Alaba’s return feels like a poisoned gift; he’s returning at such a crucial point in the season and is blocking Asensio, who’s been performing well.”
Ancelotti’s Tactics Under Scrutiny
Beyond Alaba’s performance, many fans were critical of Carlo Ancelotti’s team selection. Some believe the Italian manager made costly mistakes, particularly by benching Marco Asensio, who has impressed defensively.
CarlosA posted:
“You don’t need a Harvard degree to see that starting with Lucas Vázquez and a past-his-prime Alaba is a recipe for failure. Unfortunately, the Italian doesn’t get it.”
Omwengho1 took an even harsher stance on Alaba’s place in the squad:
“Alaba’s Real Madrid career should’ve ended long ago. He no longer has that drive.”
KingOfMadrid questioned Ancelotti’s decision-making, tweeting:
“Ancelotti is ungrateful for dropping Asensio in favor of Alaba. Asensio has been our best defender whenever he plays, but he’s benched for a washed-up Alaba who hasn’t played in two years. How does Carlo justify this?”
Looking Ahead
The loss to Betis has intensified pressure on Ancelotti and raised concerns about Real Madrid’s defensive stability as the title race tightens. With fans demanding changes, it remains to be seen how the manager will respond in the coming matches to restore confidence and keep Madrid’s title ambitions alive.
