#ThrowbackThursday: Finidi George scored the winner the last time Betis beat Real at Bernabeu before last night

Finidi George netted the winner the last time Real Betis beat Real Madrid at the Bernabeu before last night.

Real Madrid on Wednesday, September 20 shockingly lost at home to Real Betis 1-0 in a La Liga game.

Aside from not scoring for the first time in 73 games, this is also the first time Real Madrid have lost at home to Real Betis in 19 years.

The last time they lost at home to Betis was in October 1998 and guess who scored the winning goal, Nigerian great Finidi George.

 

Finidi has a very memorable photo from that game, pictured with a hat on the pitch, celebrating by putting on the hat after scoring in the matchday fixture five of the 1998/1999 La Liga season.

Real Madrid ended the season second place behind champions Barcelona while Betis finished 11th.

Prior to his move to Betis, Finidi would have joined Real Madrid if former Real Madrid coach Fabio Capello had his wish.

Capello wanted to sign the then Nigeria international but could not make the deadline Ajax set for the transfer.

“I met with (Fabio) Capello, he told me he wanted me in his team. I spoke with the directors of the club and we agreed personal terms,” Finidi told ACL Sports.

 

“Real were given a time schedule by Ajax by which they had to complete the transfer; by that they meant pay my club’s asking price for my services. Unfortunately, that time came and elapsed with them not meeting it. That was it.”

“Betis found out that Real could not meet the deadline Ajax asked and came in quickly. They paid it and we discussed terms which I was fine with, then I signed. It was very simple,” Finidi further revealed.

At Betis, Finidi flourished under late Spanish coach Luis Aragones, reaching double goal figures in almost every season he spent there.

Finidi left Betis in 2000 and went on to play for the likes of Real Mallorca and Ipswich Town.

The 46-year-old is back at Real Betis where he is one of the directors of the club.