Barcelona can't fully capitalize on shock Real Madrid loss with Vinícius missed penalty

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Vinícius Júnior missed a penalty and Real Madrid conceded an injury-time goal in a stunning 2-1 home loss to Valencia that shook its La Liga title defense on Saturday.

The shock result for Madrid was softened hours later when league leader Barcelona was held at home by Real Betis to 1-1. That meant Hansi Flick’s side extended its lead to only four points over its fierce rival. There are eight rounds left including a clasico in May.

Hugo Duro came off Valencia's bench and headed home the winner that silenced Santiago Bernabeu Stadium deep in stoppage time.

Goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili saved Vinícius' early penalty and moments later Mouctar Diakhaby headed the visitors in front in the 17th minute.

Vinícius scored from close range to equalize in the 50th, but Mamardashvili and the defense held on until Duro struck and gave Valencia its first away win of the season.

Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti defended his team's effort, even saying that Madrid “deserved" to win the game and Vinícius' penalty was one of the match's “details that doomed us.”

But the Italian manager conceded that the unexpected loss was a blow in the title race.

“It is much harder now to fight for the league, but we only have one idea and that is to fight until the end because we still have a chance after this game,” Ancelotti said.

He had to play third-string goalkeeper Fran González, who made his first-team debut for Madrid at age 19, because Thibaut Courtois and Andriy Lunin were injured. Ancelotti said he hopes both of his more experienced goalies will be fit in time to face Arsenal.

“We hadn’t won on the road and there is not a better place to do so than here,” Valencia midfielder Javi Guerra said. “There are three vital points for us and at a stadium where very few teams get a good result.”

The victory confirmed the team's improvement since Carlos Corberán replaced Ruben Baraja in December. It has risen from the relegation zone to 15th place and seven points from danger.

“When you see that from start to finish your players compete with the personality that you have to show at a ground like this, with the character you need to roll with the punches you get here, and that this attitude pays off, you have to be satisfied,” Corberán said.

Some jeers were heard from Madrid fans after Vinícius missed the penalty earned by Kylian Mbappé when his low and centered shot was easily saved by Mamardashvili. The Brazil forward also missed a penalty in a recent Champions League game against Atletico Madrid.

Ancelotti said he didn’t believe that the fans' reaction would affect his player.

“Vinícius is very focused on what he is doing, regardless of how he plays. He always gives it his all,” the manager said.

Two minutes later, Diakhaby, who returned from a serious leg injury in January, rose over Antonio Rudiger and headed in André Almeida’s corner kick.

Vinícius partly redeemed his penalty miss when he was left unmarked at the far post to stab in a corner headed on by Jude Bellingham. But Madrid pressed for the win and instead ended up losing the game when it was unable to defend a quick attack that finished with Rafa Mir’s tight cross that Duro thumped past a flailing González.

In a matchup of the hottest teams in La Liga, Betis rallied to pull level and then withstood a second-half onslaught at Barcelona.

Gavi Páez drilled a low strike home after a nice set-up by Ferran Torres to give Bacelona the lead in the seventh.

Fifth-placed Betis leveled though Natan’s header 10 minutes later, and goalkeeper Adrian San Miguel and former Barcelona defender Marc Bartra turned back a slew of shots by the hosts to split the points.

“It’s clear if we had won we would be further ahead, but this is soccer,” Gavi said about missing the chance to move six points clear. “We had our chances but couldn’t covert and leave with a bitter taste in our mouths.”

Barcelona hosts Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday in the Champions League quarterfinals.

Also, Celta Vigo won at Mallorca 2-1, while Alaves won at Girona 1-0.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Barcelona's Jules Kounde reacts after missing a chance to score during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Barcelona and Real Betis at the Lluis Companys Olympic stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, April 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)

Barcelona's Lamine Yamal lies on the pitch during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Barcelona and Real Betis at the Lluis Companys Olympic stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, April 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)

Barcelona's Fermin Lopez, center, is challenged by Betis' Romain Perraud, left, and Diego Llorente during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Barcelona and Real Betis at the Lluis Companys Olympic stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, April 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)

Barcelona's Lamine Yamal controls the ball during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Barcelona and Real Betis at the Lluis Companys Olympic stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, April 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)

Players of Real Madrid react after a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Valencia at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, April 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Valencia's Hugo Duro, left center, celebrates after scoring his side's second goal against Real Madrid during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Valencia at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, April 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior, back center, scores his side's first goal against Valencia during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Valencia at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, April 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Real Madrid's Federico Valverde reacts after a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Valencia at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, April 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Valencia's Hugo Duro, right, scores his side's 2nd goal against Real Madrid during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Valencia at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, April 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe reacts during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Valencia at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, April 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe, left, falls chased by Valencia's Cesar Tarrega during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Valencia at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, April 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe, left, controls a ball chased by Valencia's Cesar Tarrega during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Valencia at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, April 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe, right, kicks a ball chased by Valencia's Mouctar Diakhaby during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Valencia at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, April 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe gestures during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Valencia at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, April 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe reacts after missing a chance to score a goal against Valencia during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Valencia at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, April 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel on Thursday released a Palestinian who took part in an attack when he was 13 and developed schizophrenia in prison as requests for early release were denied.

Israel says Ahmad Manasra is a terrorist who tried to kill Jews his own age. Palestinians accuse Israel of subjecting a child to harsh incarceration that led to serious and potentially permanent mental illness. His lawyer, Khaled Zabarqa, said he was released after completing his nine-and-a-half-year sentence.

In 2015, Manasra, then 13, and his 15-year-old cousin rampaged through a Jewish settlement in east Jerusalem with knives. His cousin, Hassan, critically wounded a 13-year-old Israeli boy who was leaving a candy store and stabbed an Israeli man before being shot dead by police.

Ahmad was run over by a car, beaten and taunted by Israeli passers-by. A graphic video of Ahmad lying in the street, bleeding from the head while Israelis taunted him, garnered millions of views.

He was later convicted of attempted murder and sentenced to nine and a half years in prison. Doctors said he developed schizophrenia in solitary confinement and tried to harm himself and others.

Appeals to Israel’s Supreme Court for his early release were repeatedly denied. The courts ruled that he was ineligible, regardless of age or mental condition, because he was convicted of terrorism.

Zarbarqa said he did not have immediate information about Manasra’s condition after his release, but said he was with his parents.

“We know in jail he’s been very ill. We’re waiting to know his health situation now,” Zabarqa said.

Authorities first moved Manasra to isolation in November 2021, following a scuffle with another inmate. In interviews the following year, his family and lawyers said he was locked in a small cell for 23 hours a day and suffered from paranoia and delusions that kept him from sleeping. His lawyer said Manasra had tried to slit his wrists.

His family said he was transferred to the psychiatric wing of another prison every few months, where doctors gave him injections to stabilize him. A physician who was allowed to visit him when he was 18 diagnosed him with schizophrenia and attributed it to the toll of being in prison, warning that continued incarceration could lead to permanent disability.

The Prisons Authority on Thursday declined to comment on the specific conditions under which he had been held, saying all prisoners are held in accordance with Israeli and international law and that any allegations of abuse are investigated.

Rights groups say conditions inside Israeli prisons have become far more harsh since Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack ignited the war in the Gaza Strip. Palestinian prisoners released during a recent ceasefire often appeared gaunt and ill, and many went straight to local hospitals for treatment.

The Israeli ministry in charge of prisons has boasted that it has reduced the conditions of security prisoners to the bare minimum required by Israeli law.

A teenager from the occupied West Bank who was held in an Israeli prison for six months without being charged died last month after collapsing in unclear circumstances, becoming the first Palestinian under 18 to die in Israeli detention.

Lidman reported from Tel Aviv, Israel.

Follow AP’s war coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war

FILE - Maysoon, left, and Saleh Manasra, parents of Ahmad Manasra, who has been imprisoned by Israel since he was 13 when he was was convicted of attempted murder and sentenced to nine and a half years in prison, after his older cousin stabbed two Israelis, pose for a portrait with their daughter, Sham, in their home in east Jerusalem, Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022. (AP Photo/ Maya Alleruzzo, File)

FILE - Ahmed Manasra, a 13-year-old Palestinian is brought to a court in Jerusalem, Tuesday Nov. 10, 2015. According to the indictment, Manasra and his cousin Hassan, 15, stabbed two Israelis in an east Jerusalem neighborhood. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean, File)