Alvaro Cejudo scored a spectacular goal for Real Betis seven minutes into the match, then Karim Benzema got Real Madrid level 70 minutes later as the teams fought out a 1-1 draw in Sevilla that may ultimately prove extremely costly to any lingering Madrid title hopes.
The result left Real Madrid four points behind the leaders Barcelona and Atletico Madrid and Barcelona has a match in hand that offers them the chance to further expand the gap between them and their great rival.
Betis has gone its last 11 La Liga matches without a victory, this their fifth draw in the drought that extends back to November 27, but they were at their best when under intense pressure Sunday night in the Estadio Benito Villamarin.
Since there was more than a hint of offside on Benzema's equalizing goal they will feel they might legitimately have grabbed all three points although the visitors had a firm grip on the game down the stretch and simply could not beat Antonio Adan in the final 10 minutes.
For Real Madrid it was another case of failing to perform to expectations on the road, where they have now won just once in their last five matches. With Gareth Bale injured, Zinedine Zidane gave a start to James Rodriguez, who had come off the bench for the final 30 minutes in Zidane's first two matches in charge. He was paired with Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema up top but the fluency in attack was missing.
Cejudo's goal was a beauty, a scything volley from just outside the box which whistled into the far top left corner past a stranded Keylor Navas. It came from the work of Ruben Castro and a well-won knock back by Fabian which set up the strike.
Ruben Castro's run down the left, which had the beating of Danilo, produced a hard shot that Navas had to kick away from his right-hand corner. The keeper's clearance attempt flew high in the air and lobbed down on the edge of the box, where Fabian held off a defender and nodded the ball to Cejudo for the first-time hit.
Behind before they really could settle into the match, Real's first half was puncuated by erratic attacks and few real chances, Ronaldo and Benzema unable to combine effectively and James no replacement for what Bale has brought in recent matches.
The visitors appeared to have a legitimate penalty claim in the 35th minute when Petros caught Benzema from behind, clearly stepping on the striker's right foot as he tried to attack. Referee Martinez Munuera saw no foul in spite of Benzema's protest.
Real turned up the pressure after the interval and had three decent chances in the first 17 minutes of the second half. Adan held his right post well to deny Benzema, then was in the right spot to hold a first-time James attempt as the Colombian star met a corner first time. Then it was the turn of German Pezzella to beat Ronaldo to a cross that seemed like setting up an equalizer.
That finally came with 20 minutes left when Toni Kroos slipped James -- looking offside -- through on the right to go in on Adan before sliding a pass to Benzema for the open net finish. Replays of the goal won't make Betis happy but there was little complaint at the time.
Adan made a one-hand save in the 79th minute to prevent Benzema from making it 2-1 as the visitors continued to push for the winner and Betis had great difficulty retaining possession to turn the heat down. The keeper then somehow slid to keep Ronaldo from finishing a cross at the near post with three minutes of normal time remaining.
