Matchday 4 of the 2026-27 La Liga season delivered one of the most brutal sucker punches in recent football history.
Troy Parrott scored for Real Betis at Estadio La Cartuja to condemn Jose Mourinho, the man who gave him his professional debut, to his first defeat as Real Madrid boss.
The Republic of Ireland striker scored his first goal for Real Betis, having only joined them this summer from AZ Alkmaar.
The game ended chaotically after Real Betis held on to claim all three points and deny Real Madrid once again, a recurring theme since 2021.
Troy Parrott's Goal Breaks Real Madrid Hearts
Real Betis invested €20 million on striker Troy Parrott ahead of a campaign in the UEFA Champions League, but he started the game against Real Madrid on the bench.
At the 68-minute mark, Manuel Pellegrini sent the 24-year-old onto the pitch in place of Juan Hernandez as La Cartuja yearned for a goal.
He got one chance, in the 81st minute, when Thibaut Courtois brilliantly parried a Nelson Deossa header into his path.
The former Tottenham Hotspur man made no mistake from inside the box, firing home beyond the despairing attempt of the Belgian goalkeeper to keep out his effort.
He had failed to score in his first two appearances for the club and found the net with his only shot in his third appearance, sealing the win for Real Betis and getting one over his former manager Jose Mourinho.
| Troy Parrott vs Real Madrid | Statistic |
| Minutes played | 22 |
| Touches | 11 |
| Accurate passes | 2/3 (67%) |
| Shots | 1 |
| Ground duels won | 2/2 (100%) |
Stoppage-Time Chaos: VAR Intervention and Valles’ Penalty Heroics
Troy Parrott's strike was the cue for the game to descend into chaos in the closing stages, as the home side held firm while Real Madrid pushed for an equaliser.
Carlos Espi thought he had equalised inside 90 minutes with a frankly audacious acrobatic effort following an equally impressive cross from Vinicius Junior, but the VAR called the referee to review the goal, and it was chalked off due to an offside in the build up.
Jose Mourinho's side continued pushing and came close when a Kylian Mbappe cross-shot sailed over everyone and struck the woodwork.
They were seemingly given a lifeline in stoppage time when Vinicius Junior was wiped out in the box by Natan, winning his side a late penalty.
Mbappe stepped up and saw Alvaro Valles stop his effort before Marc Bartra, who looked like he had encroached before the kick was taken, cleared the ball before Mbappe could score the rebound.
The referee appeared set to order a retake for Bartra's encroachment, but after consulting with the VAR, he ruled that the game be allowed to go on.
There was still time for more goalkeeping heroics, as Valles reacted sharply to push Espi's header from the resulting corner over the bar.
From Spurs Fringe to La Liga Spotlight: Parrott’s Rebirth
Troy Parrott's match-winning contribution caps an impressive career progression following his departure from English football.
He joined Tottenham Hotspur as a 15-year-old and made his senior debut for the club in the League Cup defeat to Colchester United in September 2019, aged 17 years old.
In December, Mourinho handed him his Premier League debut against Burnley in a 5-0 win. He continued to push the youngster to do more back then, but he played only two more times for Spurs before beginning a cycle of loan moves.
He ended up in the Netherlands, where he found his feet and scored 51 goals in 97 appearances for AZ Alkmaar, prompting Real Betis to sign him on a five-year deal this summer.
His sharp instinct and physical persistence off the bench proved that his long developmental journey has molded him into a fine top-flight central striker.
