September 5: Real Madrid Lose 0-1 to Betis, Drop from Top Spot; Mbappe Misses Penalty and Vinicius Handshake Sparks Dressing-Room Discussion

In the early hours of September 5, 2026, a La Liga fourth-round clash took place at Real Betis' home ground. Real Madrid lost 0-1 away, ending their three-game winning start and marking Mourinho's first official defeat after returning to Madrid. Barcelona moved top while Betis climbed to third with nine points.

The match was full of contrast. Madrid had nearly 60% possession, 20 shots and eight on target, with an expected goals figure of 3.16, but scored no goals. The gap between attacking statistics and the final result was unusual for recent Madrid away games.

A clip of less than ten seconds from the players' tunnel spread among overseas fans. Mourinho approached Vinicius for interaction, and after a brief handshake Vinicius walked away without further conversation.

The calm clip, combined with the defeat, led to discussion about possible dressing-room issues. Mourinho's previous tensions with some Madrid players during his first spell were also mentioned.

Madrid created threats from the beginning. In the 15th minute, Vinicius missed a near open-goal chance as his shot hit the inside of the post and went out.

In the 43rd minute, Mbappe had two shots inside the box, both blocked by Betis defenders near the goal line. Madrid controlled the match but could not convert chances, while Betis defended strongly.

After halftime, Mourinho's team continued pressing, while Betis adjusted their shape and looked for counterattacks. Physical intensity increased and more yellow cards appeared.

In the 81st minute, substitute Irish striker Troy Parrott scored the only goal after reacting quickly to a scramble near the box. Courtois had saved a header, but Madrid could not stop the follow-up.

After conceding, Madrid pushed forward with all attackers in the opposition half, turning the final stage into a siege of the Betis goal.

In stoppage time, Vinicius won a penalty after being brought down in the box. Mbappe took it, but his mid-height shot was saved by Betis goalkeeper Alvaro Valles, ending Madrid's hopes.

Mbappe recorded seven shots and four on target, hit the post once, missed the penalty and wasted four major chances. He received a 6.0 rating, the lowest among Madrid's starting attackers.

Bellingham also performed below his first three league matches. He was limited by midfield battles and failed to provide dangerous through balls or lead the attack.

The connection among Madrid's three main attackers declined. Mbappe and Vinicius exchanged only 13.5% of passes, while left-side congestion and unused right-side space made the attack fragmented.

Spanish media figure Naninho said Madrid's attacking performance did not match their three-win record, as they wasted many chances and failed to collect three away points.

Naninho added that Mourinho's main mistake was replacing Arda Guler in the 64th minute. Guler had been creating danger on the right, and his departure reduced Madrid's right-side threat.

The handshake clip attracted attention because people tried to interpret the current situation through Mourinho's first Madrid spell. From 2010 to 2013, he won La Liga, Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup titles, but his conflict with Casillas affected the dressing room.

On June 11, 2026, Madrid announced Mourinho's return on a contract until 2029. The club had missed major La Liga and Champions League honors for two seasons, finished second with 79 points and faced reports of internal issues.

Mourinho introduced three rules: arriving one hour before training, eating together at the club cafeteria and completing therapy internally. Late players would do extra individual work instead of receiving fines. Training details and lineups stayed private for 54 days.

Mourinho gained greater authority after returning. All 24 first-team players were registered in La Liga with one place remaining, and he received independent control over daily training.

In the first three league rounds, Madrid scored 10 goals and conceded two, winning all matches for nine points. New signing Diomande, worth 125 million euros, played only 57 minutes, showing Mourinho's focus on team balance.

Earlier in the season, Vinicius was filmed shouting at teammates over concerns that they favored passing to Mbappe and overlooked him, drawing attention to attacking balance.

Vinicius had been Madrid's key left-side threat. After Mbappe joined in 2025, his role changed, with fewer shots and touches. His shots per game dropped from 4.5 to 2.8 and touches fell about 15% last season.

Available information shows Vinicius did not refuse Mourinho's handshake or avoid him. There was no public confrontation, and claims of a silent protest are mainly outside interpretation.

Mourinho said on August 17 that it was difficult to discuss one player separately because the team was growing together. In early September he stressed training effort and execution over reputation.

Vinicius showed frustration when substituted several times last season and was labeled difficult by some observers. Mourinho's demand for competition has not been proven to have caused conflict between them.

The 0-1 loss was Madrid's first defeat within the opening four La Liga rounds since 2014-15. Betis had one win, two draws and two losses in the previous five meetings, but remained unbeaten in their last two home matches against Madrid.

The match was played at Seville Olympic Stadium with temperatures reaching 34 degrees Celsius. The heat may have affected Madrid's second-half fitness and finishing.

After the defeat, Madrid remained on nine points and dropped to second place. They missed the chance to build a gap over Barcelona and surrendered the lead.

According to the La Liga schedule, Madrid will next host Malaga, with less than a week to recover. Mourinho must improve attacking efficiency to prevent further dropped points.

The 2026-27 Champions League group stage starting September 17 will test Madrid's new dressing-room structure and attacking system. Their performance against Europe's top teams will be key to judging Mourinho's return.