The La Liga title race became even more competitive at the beginning of the fourth round of the 2026-2027 season after Real Madrid suffered their first league defeat against Real Betis, a result that gives Barcelona an important opportunity to move clear at the top of the standings while opening the door for several clubs to challenge for the leading positions during the early weeks. ⚽🔥
Real Madrid lost 1-0 away to Real Betis, a result that highlighted the difficulty of the competition this season. Betis managed to stop the Spanish giants’ perfect start and collect three valuable points, taking their tally to nine and moving firmly into the leading group.
The defeat comes at an important moment for Real Madrid, particularly because it followed three consecutive victories. The club now remain on nine points, level with Barcelona and Real Betis after four rounds.
Real Betis Deliver a Blow to Real Madrid
Real Betis took advantage of home support to record an important 1-0 victory over Real Madrid, showing that the battle for the top of La Liga may not be limited to the traditional Spanish giants.
The victory is particularly valuable for Betis because it came against one of the strongest teams in the competition. The three points lifted them to nine and placed them firmly among the leading clubs after four rounds.
The result could also provide the team with significant confidence for the coming matches, especially because beating Real Madrid can raise the belief of both players and coaching staff. 🏆
Real Madrid Lose Their Perfect Record
Real Madrid entered the fourth round with a perfect record, but the defeat against Betis ended their winning run and left the club needing to quickly recover its balance.
The loss makes the Spanish champions’ calculations more difficult, particularly with Barcelona and Betis sitting on the same number of points while Atletico Madrid, Alaves and Osasuna remain close behind.
Real Madrid will need to regain their attacking efficiency and return to winning ways in the coming matches to avoid dropping more points during the early stage of the season.
Barcelona Have a Golden Opportunity
The biggest beneficiaries of Real Madrid’s defeat are Barcelona, who now have the opportunity to move clear at the top of La Liga if they defeat Valencia in the fourth round.
The Catalan club have nine points ahead of their next match after winning their first three games. A fourth victory would take Barcelona to 12 points and give them outright first place.
The fixture is particularly important because victory would not only provide three points but also give Barcelona a psychological advantage in the early title battle against Real Madrid and the other contenders. ⭐
Valencia Search for a Surprise
On the other side, Valencia enter their match against Barcelona in 17th place with only one point.
Despite the major difference in the standings, La Liga matches can always produce surprises, particularly when a team faces one of the competition’s biggest clubs.
Valencia will look to capitalize on any weaknesses in Barcelona’s performance, relying on defensive organization and quick attacks to trouble the Catalan side and search for a result that could help restore their balance.
Atletico Madrid Chase the Top
The fourth round also includes an important match between Atletico Madrid and Athletic Bilbao, with Atletico entering the fixture on seven points in fourth place.
The Madrid side will be looking for victory to reach 10 points and move closer to the top, particularly because the gap with the leading teams remains extremely small.
Athletic Bilbao, meanwhile, have three points and are looking to improve their position and collect a result that can help them recover from their difficult start.
An Early Battle at the Top
The title race is not limited to Barcelona, Real Madrid and Real Betis. Other teams, including Atletico Madrid, Alaves and Osasuna, are also near the top with seven points each.
The figures show that La Liga has started competitively and that another slip by one of the leading contenders could quickly allow their rivals to move ahead.
The narrow gap between the teams also increases the value of every match, particularly during the opening rounds.
La Liga Standings
The La Liga standings after Real Madrid’s defeat to Real Betis are:
- Barcelona – 9 points
- Real Madrid – 9 points
- Real Betis – 9 points
- Atletico Madrid – 7 points
- Alaves – 7 points
- Osasuna – 7 points
- Sevilla – 6 points
- Deportivo La Coruna – 5 points
- Racing Santander – 4 points
- Levante – 4 points
- Real Sociedad – 4 points
- Espanyol – 3 points
- Athletic Bilbao – 3 points
- Getafe – 3 points
- Villarreal – 2 points
- Celta Vigo – 2 points
- Valencia – 1 point
- Rayo Vallecano – 1 point
- Elche – 1 point
- Malaga – 1 point
The Fourth Round Can Bring More Changes
As the fourth round continues, the shape of the standings can still change significantly, particularly because several teams are separated by only a small number of points.
Fans are eagerly awaiting Barcelona’s clash with Valencia to see whether the Catalan side can actually move clear at the top, while Real Madrid supporters will be waiting to see how their team responds after the defeat against Betis.
Atletico Madrid’s match against Athletic Bilbao also represents another chance to close the gap and enter the title race more strongly. 📢
Real Madrid’s Defeat Is an Early Warning
Although the season remains in its early stages, Real Madrid’s defeat to Betis represents an early warning that the club must approach the competition with maximum concentration.
Barcelona, meanwhile, have an ideal opportunity to take advantage of their rivals’ setback and send a strong message to the rest of the contenders, while Real Betis continue an impressive start that has made them a genuine part of the title race.
✨ Real Madrid’s defeat has intensified the La Liga title race, while Barcelona now have a golden opportunity to move clear at the top, with Real Betis and Atletico Madrid also demonstrating that the competition could be more exciting than expected this season.
📢 Do you expect Barcelona to move clear at the top after facing Valencia? Can Real Madrid quickly return to winning ways? Share your prediction for the standings after the fourth round concludes. ⚽🔥🏆
