Real Madrid's perfect start to the LaLiga season came to an abrupt end on Thursday as they fell 1-0 to Real Betis at La Cartuja, suffering their first defeat under Jose Mourinho. The result leaves them second in the table on nine points from four games, level with leaders Barcelona, who have played one fewer match. The defeat will sting, but the post-match conversation has been dominated by a refereeing controversy surrounding Kylian Mbappe's late penalty, which the officials declined to order retaken despite claims of encroachment by Marc Bartra. That missed opportunity proved costly and will fuel debate about what might have been.

Off the pitch, Mourinho has been making firm decisions ahead of the Champions League campaign. Ferland Mendy has been excluded from the European squad as he continues his recovery from a long-term muscle injury, with a highly rated teenage midfielder taking his place. Mourinho also issued a public warning to defender Raul Asencio following a traffic conviction, even after the 23-year-old was cleared of separate charges relating to an explicit video. The message from the manager was clear: standards apply to everyone.

The injury list remains a significant concern. Eder Militao, Rodrygo, Mendy, Asencio, Aurelien Tchouameni, and Endrick are all sidelined, stretching the squad at a demanding point in the calendar. A further note of encouragement came from former boss Carlo Ancelotti, who visited Real Madrid City and publicly backed Mourinho to succeed at the Bernabeu. The next test arrives quickly, with Inter coming to the Bernabeu on September 8 for the opening Champions League fixture.