Dani Ceballas the hero for Real Madrid on return to Real Betis

All the action from Benito Villamarin Stadium

Ceballos came off the bench to win it for Real (AFP/Getty Images)

Substitute Dani Ceballos scored from a free kick in the final minutes to save Real Madrid from another setback in the Spanish league title race on Sunday.

Ceballos sent his strike through a gap in the defensive wall to claim the winning goal in a 2-1 victory at Real Betis. Ceballos, who joined Madrid from Betis before the start of last season, went on in the 74th minute to jeers from Betis fans and with Madrid on the defensive.

But when Casemiro earned a foul just outside the box, Ceballos stepped up to score the goal that will take some pressure off beleaguered Madrid coach Santiago Solari.

Please allow a moment for the live blog

[13 January 2019 21:30 · Kieran Jackson]

85 minutes: Real Betis 1-1 Real Madrid

Andres Guardado comes off for Ryad Boudebouz for Real Betis. 

[13 January 2019 21:32 · Kieran Jackson]

87 minutes: Real Betis 1-1 Real Madrid

Yellow card for William Carvalho, who fouls Casemiro as he drived towards the penalty area. 

Good chance this for Madrid.

[13 January 2019 21:33 · Kieran Jackson]

88 minutes: Real Betis 1-1 Real Madrid

Before the free-kick, Betis make another sub: Antonio Sanabria comes off for Loren Moron. 

[13 January 2019 21:34 · Kieran Jackson]

GOAL! Real Betis 1-2 Real Madrid (Ceballos 88')

Dani Ceballos looks to have won it here for Madrid!

His free-kick is relatively simple: not particularly powerful, to the keeper's side, but Pau Lopez takes a critical step to the right, and he's wrong-footed as the ball sneaks into the corner.

The partisan home crowd are stunned! 

[13 January 2019 21:37 · Kieran Jackson]

90 minutes: Real Betis 1-2 Real Madrid 

Four minutes of added time for Real Madrid to hold on for three precious points. 

[13 January 2019 21:37 · Kieran Jackson]

92 minutes: Real Betis 1-2 Real Madrid 

Corner to Betis here...

[13 January 2019 21:38 · Kieran Jackson]

93 minutes: Real Betis 1-2 Real Madrid 

Appeals for handball from the corner but nothing given. 

[13 January 2019 21:42 · Kieran Jackson]

FULL-TIME: Real Betis 1-2 Real Madrid 

Madrid have won it at the death!

Luka Modric opened the scoring, but ex-Madrid man Sergio Canales equalised after a VAR correction in the second-half. 

But Dani Ceballos' late free-kick secures three points for the visitors, as they move up to fourth - above Alaves - on 33 points. 

Missed opportunity for Betis that's for sure. 

[13 January 2019 21:43 · Kieran Jackson]

Real Betis stay in seventh, on 26 points.

[13 January 2019 21:45 · Kieran Jackson]

That's it from us, on an afternoon where Barcelona maintained their five-point gap to Atletico Madrid at the top of the La Liga table with a 3-0 win against Eibar, while Real Madrid left it late to beat Real Betis 2-1 in Seville. 

Join us next time on The Independent live blog! Until then, have a very good evening!