Match Preview

Real Madrid return this weekend for its second straight road match to face Real Betis at the Villamarín in Andalusia.

Real opened their season drawing 0-0 to Sociedad last weekend. The rust clearly showed as the club look to shake some of it off this time around.

Real Betis is perfect to start their own season, keeping clean sheets in both of its previous matches.

These two clubs last played back in March of last season where Real Madrid lost 2-1 at the Villamarín. Cristian Tello scored a late goal to give Betis the victory.

Real Madrid haven’t had the best of luck the last three times the two clubs have met. Betis has won twice and drawn in the last three meetings. The last time Betis went unbeaten in four or more La Liga matches in a row against Real was all the way back in the early 1930s.

Los Blancos will look to keep this stat in the past as the club looks for its first win of the relatively new La Liga season.

Injuries/Suspensions

Real Madrid will still be without Eden Hazard, Mariano, Marco Asensio and Eder Militão, who all missed last weekend in Basque Country. Lucas Vazquez and Isco are both back in the lineup after missing the trip to the Anoeta.

Real Betis will be without Dani Martín, Francis Guerrero, Victor Camarasa and Andres Guardado.

There are no suspensions for either club in Saturday’s match.

Potential XIs

Real Betis

Bravo; Emerson, Mandi, Bartra, Moreno; Rodríguez, Carvalho; Fekir, Joaquín, Canales; Iglesias

Real Madrid

Courtois; Carvajal, Varane, Ramos, Mendy; Modric, Casemiro, Kroos; Rodrygo, Vinicius, Benzema

Casemiro did not start in the season opener against Sociedad. He will likely get his first start of the new season on Saturday.

Martin Ødegaard started last weekend so it is possible he starts from the bench this time around with Casemiro likely slotting in. There’s always a chance Zidane gives Ødegaard another look instead of Rodrygo.

Prediction

Real Betis—Real Madrid 1-2

This is another really tough match for Real Madrid in consecutive weekends. Real have not had the best of luck against Betis as of late in La Liga.

Betis are off and running to a great start to their season where they’ve won both matches and have yet to concede a goal. They’ve faired so well that they’re one of only a couple clubs who have not tinkered with their starting lineup.

Needless to say, Real have their work cut out for them again on Saturday. It will likely not be another high-scoring match, but Real would do well to put up some goals. It would be Real’s first goals of the season as well as the first goals Betis has conceded.

While Real Madrid are still not up to full strength, they have the quality depth to match this Betis side and put a bit of a damper on their hot start. Real need to start turning their luck around in Andalusia and Saturday is the perfect opportunity to do so and shake off the early season trembles and come away with the three points.