Beckham sees red as Real Madrid draws with Real Betis
David Beckham was sent off as Real Madrid were held to a goalless draw at home by Real Betis on Saturday night.
Real Madrid coach Fabio Capello did not believe Beckham deserved to be sent off for his late challenge.
Beckham was shown a straight red card by referee Cesar Muniz Fernandez deep into injury time at the end of the goalless draw after bringing down Jose Isidoro on the edge of the Betis area.
Beckham was clearly frustrated not to have been awarded a free kick just seconds before as he brought down Isidoro from behind in a needless challenge.
However, Capello does not feel the former England captain's foul warranted a red card, insisting it was the latest in a long line of questionable refereeing decisions that he feels have gone against his side at home.
"I have seen it on television, and it (Beckham's foul) is not so serious," he said after the match.
Beckham was playing in his 150th official match for Real Madrid in the clash against Betis, and his first home appearance since before Christmas.
The 31-year-old midfielder had only returned to the Madrid team for last weekend's game with Real Sociedad, having missed the previous six matches after being exiled by Capello following his announcement that is to leave the Spanish giants in the summer.
Beckham played a key role against Sociedad as his equalizing goal helped Madrid overturn an early deficit to win, 2-1.
However, the former Manchester United man was unable to inspire Madrid to another victory on Saturday night as they missed the chance to close to within two points of leaders Barcelona after being held goalless by lowly Betis.
That was just the result Capello did not want ahead of a crucial few weeks for his side, which sees them play two Champions League games against Bayern Munich, local derbies with Atletico Madrid and Getafe, plus a trip to bitter rivals Barcelona in their next five fixtures.
Real Zaragoza stayed on the fringes of the race for the Primera Liga title with a 1-0 victory against a Villarreal side that seems to have lost its way this season.
The only goal came in the first half and was the work of Diego Milito, who bagged his 15th league strike of what is proving a prolific season.
The scoreline would have been even more emphatic were it not for a great display by Villarreal goalkeeper, Mariano Barbosa, who made several outstanding saves.
Real thus ended the evening in sixth place in the standings and eight points adrift of leaders and champions Barcelona, who play their game in hand on Sunday.
Victor Fernandez's team thus is still just about in contention in a season where no side has yet managed to pull clear of the leading group.
Real Zaragoza started well and in the third minute Andres D'Alessandro drilled a free-kick just wide from 30 yards.
The Argentinian midfielder had another opportunity minutes later from closer range, but was wayward again.
Zaragoza continued to push forward and then Barbosa made a fine save at the expense of a corner to deny Sergio Garcia, who had let fly with his left foot from inside the area. Barbosa made an even better save to deny Gabriel Milito who had connected with his head to a D'Alessandro corner.
Jose Mari Romero signalled that Villarreal were in the game with a shot from distance that went wide, but it was Real who were in the ascendancy with another Garcia shot that forced Barbosa to make another save.
Just after the half-hour mark, Real got the goal its early pressure had deserved as Diego Milito found the net from close range after Alberto Zapater's shot had come back off a post.