Real stage comeback to win eight-goal thriller at Betis

Soccer Football - La Liga Santander - Real Betis vs Real Madrid - Estadio Benito Villamarin, Seville, Spain - February 18, 2018 Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo reacts after Marco Asensio scores their first goal REUTERS/Jon Nazca

SEVILLE (Reuters) - Cristiano Ronaldo and Sergio Ramos helped Real Madrid mount a stirring second-half comeback to beat Real Betis 5-3 away from home in a thrilling La Liga game on Sunday, demonstrating their awesome power in attack as well as their vulnerabilities.

Marco Asensio headed the Liga champions in front in the 11th minute but Aissa Mandi nodded in an equaliser in the 33rd. Nacho Fernandez then diverted a fumbled save by Keylor Navas into his own net to give ninth-placed Betis the lead in the 37th.

Soccer Football - La Liga Santander - Real Betis vs Real Madrid - Estadio Benito Villamarin, Seville, Spain - February 18, 2018 Real Madrid’s Keylor Navas saves from Real Betis' Joaquin (not pictured) REUTERS/Jon Nazca

A party atmosphere had gripped the Benito Villamarin stadium but locally-born Real captain Ramos punctured the mood by levelling with a towering header from a corner five minutes into the second half.

Gareth Bale spurned two good chances to score and it was left to hot-shot winger Asensio to put Madrid back in front with a strike across goal to complete a blistering counterattack.

Ronaldo looked to have sealed the win with a net-bursting strike from a tight angle shortly after the hour mark.

Soccer Football - La Liga Santander - Real Betis vs Real Madrid - Estadio Benito Villamarin, Seville, Spain - February 18, 2018 Real Madrid’s Marco Asensio celebrates scoring their first goal REUTERS/Jon Nazca

Substitute Sergio Leon pulled a goal back for Betis in the 85th minute to set up a tense finish. However, substitute Karim Benzema pounced in stoppage time for Madrid's 13th goal in three games after their 3-1 win over Paris St Germain in the Champions League on Wednesday and their 5-2 hammering of Real Sociedad last weekend.

Real are fourth in the league standings on 45 points, 17 behind runaway leaders Barcelona although they can climb above Valencia and in to third place if they win at Leganes on Wednesday.

Soccer Football - La Liga Santander - Real Betis vs Real Madrid - Estadio Benito Villamarin, Seville, Spain - February 18, 2018 Real Betis’ Junior Firpo celebrates after Real Madrid’s Nacho scores an own goal and the second for Real Betis REUTERS/Jon Nazca

(Reporting by Richard Martin; Editing by Christian Radnedge)

Soccer Football - La Liga Santander - Real Betis vs Real Madrid - Estadio Benito Villamarin, Seville, Spain - February 18, 2018 Real Betis' Loren Moron reacts after a missed chance REUTERS/Jon Nazca

Soccer Football - La Liga Santander - Real Betis vs Real Madrid - Estadio Benito Villamarin, Seville, Spain - February 18, 2018 Real Madrid’s Sergio Ramos and Real Betis' Antonio Barragan REUTERS/Jon Nazca

Soccer Football - La Liga Santander - Real Betis vs Real Madrid - Estadio Benito Villamarin, Seville, Spain - February 18, 2018 Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo in action REUTERS/Jon Nazca

Soccer Football - La Liga Santander - Real Betis vs Real Madrid - Estadio Benito Villamarin, Seville, Spain - February 18, 2018 Real Madrid’s Sergio Ramos scores their second goal REUTERS/Jon Nazca

Soccer Football - La Liga Santander - Real Betis vs Real Madrid - Estadio Benito Villamarin, Seville, Spain - February 18, 2018 Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale in action with Real Betis' Marc Bartra REUTERS/Jon Nazca

Soccer Football - La Liga Santander - Real Betis vs Real Madrid - Estadio Benito Villamarin, Seville, Spain - February 18, 2018 Real Madrid’s Marco Asensio celebrates scoring their third goal REUTERS/Jon Nazca

Soccer Football - La Liga Santander - Real Betis vs Real Madrid - Estadio Benito Villamarin, Seville, Spain - February 18, 2018 Real Madrid’s Marco Asensio celebrates scoring their third goal with Dani Carvajal REUTERS/Jon Nazca

Soccer Football - La Liga Santander - Real Betis vs Real Madrid - Estadio Benito Villamarin, Seville, Spain - February 18, 2018 Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale is shown a yellow card by referee Jesus Gil Manzano as Cristiano Ronaldo looks on REUTERS/Jon Nazca

Soccer Football - La Liga Santander - Real Betis vs Real Madrid - Estadio Benito Villamarin, Seville, Spain - February 18, 2018 Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates scoring their fourth goal with Casemiro and teammates REUTERS/Jon Nazca

Soccer Football - La Liga Santander - Real Betis vs Real Madrid - Estadio Benito Villamarin, Seville, Spain - February 18, 2018 Real Betis' Sergio Leon celebrates scoring their third goal REUTERS/Jon Nazca

Soccer Football - La Liga Santander - Real Betis vs Real Madrid - Estadio Benito Villamarin, Seville, Spain - February 18, 2018 Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema celebrates scoring their fifth goal with teammates REUTERS/Jon Nazca