Álvaro Valles was the hero for Real Betis Balompié by saving a penalty from Kylian Mbappé in stoppage time to secure a 1-0 victory over Real Madrid at La Cartuja. The homegrown goalkeeper stopped the French star's shot in the 92nd minute, capping a superb performance that earned him praise from fans and teammates.
How did Valles save the decisive penalty?
Valles revealed his save was a product of study and a bit of gamesmanship. "We have studied his penalties, the last two he had taken to the open side," the keeper told the outlet. He added that he tried to distract the French forward by telling him it was the last minute and he needed luck, a tactic that, in his words, "worked well". The goalkeeper also credited information from goalkeeping coach Toni Doblas for helping him guess Mbappé's chosen side.
His performance wasn't limited to that moment. Throughout the match, Valles made other notable interventions, including saves from headers by Ibrahima Konaté and Sergi Espí, plus secure exits against Vinicius Junior. These actions were vital to keeping a clean sheet and earning three important points at home.
What does this win mean for Betis's season?
The victory over Madrid reinforces Betis's strength at home and places them in a positive position at the start of the 2026/27 season. "It was very important to win to keep making ourselves strong at home, to keep picking up points here," stated Valles. Manuel Pellegrini's team showed great resilience in the final minutes when the opponent piled players forward searching for an equalizer.
With this result, Betis adds valuable points in the fight for European places. Fans can check the team's progress in the LaLiga EA Sports standings. The next test for the verdiblanco side is a trip to San Mamés to face Athletic Club next weekend, a match already listed on our fixtures page.
How has Valles performed this season?
Álvaro Valles is establishing himself as one of Betis's standout players at the start of the campaign. Before his heroic display against Madrid, he had already been decisive in wins over Real Sociedad and Valencia. The goalkeeper, a product of the Betis academy, has a notable penalty-saving record. According to data compiled by ABC Deportes, Valles has stopped 44 percent of the penalties taken against him in his career.
His consistency between the posts is a fundamental asset for the team. At 28 years old, the keeper provides security and experience to a defense aiming to be more solid this season. The details of the full squad, including all goalkeepers, are available on the squad page.
Valles called the day his "best day as a Betis player". His joy was shared by the entire fanbase, who cheered him at the end of the match. The next challenge for the day's hero will be maintaining this high level against Athletic, in a match scheduled for Sunday, September 13.
