Real Madrid seeks to get a piece of Villamarín
Ancelotti's men visit an affected Betis with the intention of taking advantage of the Barça-Girona
MADRID, 8 Dic. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Real Madrid faces Real Betis on Saturday (16.15) at the Benito Villamarín on the occasion of matchday 16 of LaLiga EA Sports, an opportunity, Carlo Ancelotti's team trust, to remain in the lead alone or score points against Girona and Barça, second and third who face each other on Sunday.
The white team maintains an almost pristine rhythm, with only the defeat against Atlético de Madrid more than two months ago, adapted to the changes this season of the Italian coach and the setback of injuries. The last national team break provided a new challenge by losing Vinícius and Eduardo Camavinga.
The European champion is taking advantage of its wardrobe to lead the League with 38 points, the same as Girona and four more than FC Barcelona, and be sure to be first in its group in the Champions League, classified for the round of 16. final, with a match to play this coming week against Unión Berlin.
The last to join the good white dynamic was Brahim Díaz, protagonist of last week's victory against Granada. Meanwhile, Rodrygo has been performing at the level of last season for several weeks now and Joselu is touched by a wand. Furthermore, the one who doesn't stop is Jude Bellingham, despite the mishap he suffered in his shoulder.
The Englishman is a machine and appears on any side of the field to provide solutions to a Madrid that takes games forward almost without breaking a sweat. The demand is being made by a surprising Girona, while Barça tries to manage its doubts so as not to see Ancelotti's men escape before the Christmas break.
The white streak comes to Villamarín with Tony Kroos as the head of the midfield and with the possible return to the eleven of Dani Ceballos, a former Betic player who is already accumulating minutes after his injury. The green and white team is not at its best, but remains seventh in the table after two draws in the last three days.
Manuel Pellegrini's men also left their homework for the last day next Thursday in the Europa League, against Rangers for a direct ticket to the round of 16 and this week they ended the Copa del Rey with suffering against Villanovense. The worst came this Thursday in training, the major injury, fracture of the fibula, to Guido Rodríguez.
The loss of the Argentine, the undisputed starter, conditions a Betis that needs a step forward without experienced players and without Nabil Fekir, who has poorly recovered from his long injury and has hip problems. Thus, the Andalusian team clings to Isco, who undoubtedly shines with his own light in Pellegrini's team.
The Malaga native's motivation will be even greater against his former team, but Betis will need something more than the creative midfielder. The Ayoze, Assane Diao and Willian José must appear there, without neglecting an inch against a Madrid that will try to silence Villamarín to put pressure on their pursuers.
DATASHEET:
–POSIBLE ALIGNMENTS:
REAL BETIS: Rui Silva; Ruibal, Pezzella, Chadi Riad, Abner; Guardado, Marc Roca; Assane Diao, Isco, Ayoze, and Willian José.
REAL MADRID: Kepa; Lucas, Rüdiger, Alaba, Mendy; Valverde, Kroos, Ceballos, Bellingham; Brahim and Rodrygo.
–REFEREE: Soto Grado (C. Riojano).
–STADIUM: Benito Villamarín.
–TIME: 16.15/Movistar Plus.