Verdict: Real Madrid win
Best Odds: 4/5
Bookmaker: Dachbet
Turning their attention back to La Liga duties on Saturday evening, Real Madrid will travel to the Estadio Benito Villamarin when they meet Real Betis.
Real Betis
Starting with the hosts, making an immediate return to winning ways last weekend as they snatched a 2-1 victory away at Getafe, Real Betis will be desperate to find a route back into the European spots here. However, while Manuel Pellegrini’s men might have won three of their previous four appearances across all competitions, the one-time Manchester City boss will have a headache over his side’s extended issues on home soil. Signing off their Europa Conference League group stage campaign with a shock 1-0 loss at the hands of Belgium outfit Gent, Real Betis have remarkably failed to claim a single La Liga win at the Estadio Benito Villamarin since a famous 1-0 victory against Atletico Madrid on October 27th.
Real Betis Team News
Watching the Spanish Football Federation overturn Antony’s red card against Getafe last week, the Manchester United loanee will be free to feature here. However, all still dealing with respective injury issues, Real Betis will be unable to call upon the likes of Hector Bellerin, Marc Roca and former West Ham star Pablo Fornals.
Bagging a sensational La Liga brace against Getafe, ex-Real Madrid ace Isco will partner Cucho Hernandez in the final third. Former Leeds defender Diego Llorente will partner Marc Bartra at the back.
Real Madrid
As for the visitors, while Real Madrid might open this weekend’s fixtures sat behind arch-rivals Barcelona and top spot in the La Liga standings, Los Blancos are enjoying a real purple patch. Picking up a Copa del Rey advantage earlier in the week as they clinched a 1-0 victory away at Real Sociedad, Carlo Ancelotti’s men are unbeaten in all of their previous seven appearances across all competitions. Extending on their Champions League adventure on February 19th as they claimed a thrilling 6-3 aggregate win against Manchester City, the former AC Milan boss has also seen his squad continue to shine on their travels. Including a pulsating 3-2 victory away at the Etihad last month, Real Madrid have suffered just a single La Liga defeat away from the Bernabeu since the start of December.
Real Madrid Team News
While Kylian Mbappe might have been forced to miss out away at Real Sociedad earlier in the week, Los Blancos are expecting the French superstar to make a full return on Saturday evening. However, both still dealing with respective long-term knee issues, Madrid will be without the defensive duo of Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao.
Although Brazilian youngster Endrick might have bagged a Copa del Rey winner away at Sociedad on Wednesday night, the 18-year-old will likely settle for a spot on the bench. Handed a full rest in midweek, former Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois will return between the sticks.
Real Betis vs Real Madrid Key Factors to Consider
- When Real Betis and Real Madrid met for their reverse La Liga meeting on September 1st, Los Blancos collected a 2-0 victory at the Bernabeu.
- In fact, Real Madrid are unbeaten in all of their last nine consecutive meetings against Saturday’s hosts.
- Los Blancos have suffered just a single defeat from any of their previous 10 trips to the Estadio Benito Villamarin.
- Real Madrid have conceded just a single goal in their last three trips to Andalusia.
- Seven of the last eight meetings between Real Betis and Real Madrid have finished with under 2.5 goals.
Conclusion
Claiming a gritty 1-0 victory away at Real Sociedad earlier in the week as they secured a Copa del Rey advantage, Los Blancos will now have their sights set on finding a route back to the top of the La Liga table. Landing a 2-0 win when they welcomed Betis to the Spanish capital for their reverse meeting on September 1st, Ancelotti’s men hold a dominant record against Saturday’s hosts. Suffering just a single defeat at the Estadio Benito Villamarin from any of their previous 10 trips, we are backing Madrid to extend on their recent purple patch.
Verdict: Real Madrid win
Best Odds: 4/5
Bookmaker: Dachbet
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