SERGIO RAMOS scored a late header as Real Madrid came from behind to beat Real Betis 2-1 to go top of La Liga.
Madrid fell behind in the first half through a Keylor Navas own goal, but Cristiano Ronaldo equalised shortly after before Ramos sent the home fans into jubilation.
Keylor Navas made a huge blunder for the goal that saw his side go behind against the run of play
Cristiano Ronaldo had the first sight of goal, blazing high and wide from a tight angle after Alvaro Morata squared the ball to him at the back post before the Portuguese man had a shot pushed round the post by Antonio Adan.
Madrid almost found the breakthrough in the 12th minute, but Isco’s long-range drive went inches wide of the left-hand post.
However Los Blancos should have been down to ten-men when Keylor Navas brought down Darko Brasanac on the edge of the box, but the referee waved play on.
But then in the 25th minute, the Costa Rican goalkeeper was guilty for one of the howlers of season as he scored an own goal, letting the ball squirm out of his hands after he saved the initial shot from Antonio Sanabria, and somehow clawed the ball into the net.
But Zinedine Zidane’s men got back on level terms in the 41st minute when Ronaldo headed home from eight yards out after meeting a beautiful whipped in delivery from Marcelo to score his 19th La Liga goal of the season.
The equaliser from Cristiano Ronaldo was his 46th headed goal in La Liga – the most of any player in the league.
In a slow start to the second half, Ronaldo again was the man causing problems, latching on to a pass to go one-on-one with Adan, but German Pezzella expertly saved the day for Betis with a perfectly-timed last-ditch sliding tackle.
The former Manchester United man was then left feeling aggrieved after his lob over Adan was ruled out for offside, although replays show he was level with the last defender.
Victor Sanchez’s side were then reduced to ten men when Cristiano Piccini was shown a second yellow after he brought down Isco when Real were in a promising position.
Just when it looked like Barcelona would be staying top of the league, up stepped Sergio Ramos once again to head home a late goal for his tenth strike this campaign in the 81st minute from an in-swinging Toni Kroos corner.
Navas then redeemed himself in the 92nd minute with a miraculous save to parry away Sanabria’s header when it looked as if it was going to nestle into the bottom right corner.
Madrid now sit at the top two points clear of their rivals, and have a game in hand at their disposal.
