Rodrygo winner helps Real Madrid maintain perfect start against Betis

Real Madrid now tops the table on 12 points, the only team to win all of its first four games.

 Real Madrid’s Rodrygo (centre) celebrates scoring their second goal with teammates | Photo Credit: REUTERS/Isabel Infantes

Real Madrid preserved its perfect start to the LaLiga season as it beat Betis 2-1 thanks to a second-half winner from Rodrygo at the Bernabeu on Saturday, keeping the defending Spanish and European champion at the top of the table.

Real struck first when David Alaba passed to Vinícius Jr with a magnificent long ball in the 9th minute, and the Brazilian raced forward and lobbed the ball over Betis keeper Rui Silva’s head.

Betis responded eight minutes later when Real Madrid academy alumni Sergio Canales smashed an equalizer in between Thibaut Courtois's legs.

Carlo Ancelotti's team fought back with a vengeance but missed several opportunities until it finally managed to break the deadlock in the 65th minute when Rodrygo thumped home a close-range finish from a Federico Valverde cross.

Real Madrid now tops the table on 12 points, the only team to win all of its first four games.

Second-placed Betis has nine points after its first defeat, two in front of Barcelona, Villarreal and Athletic Bilbao who still have a game in hand.