The locals want to have their first big game of the season against a rival that has scored points in six of its last seven visits to the Merengue ground.
MADRID, 31 Ago. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Real Madrid will host Real Betis Balompié this Sunday (9.30pm) during matchday 4 of LaLiga EA Sports, a match in which the home team cannot afford another slip-up after starting with five points out of a possible nine, while the Andalusian team will seek to remain undefeated and score points at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium where they have only lost in one of their last seven visits.
Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius Jr.’s Real Madrid have not been firing on all cylinders so far. The white team, the big favourite to repeat last season’s league title, is having more problems than expected at the start of the season. Despite the fact that Carlo Ancelotti’s men lifted their first title of the year in Warsaw with the European Super Cup, their performance in the domestic competition, with one win and two draws in the first three games, has been poor.
Ancelotti has not yet put the pieces together to get the ‘galacticos’ project up and running. The white team’s play and problems when defending are the main aspects to improve after the league start. In the midweek match against Las Palmas, Real Madrid suffered another setback in a duel where they needed a penalty converted by Vinícius to get a point.
But beyond the result, what is worrying is their lack of density in creating danger on the opponent’s goal. The midfield is not able to overcome the duel due to the withdrawal of Toni Kroos, and neither Luka Modric, nor Aurélien Tchouaméni, nor Arda Güler nor Fede Valverde have managed to be the metronome, having special difficulty in contacting the three up front, who hardly receive balls in advantage to threaten.
One of the players who could solve Real Madrid’s problems is Dani Ceballos, but the Italian coach has not given him any opportunities so far. Against Betis, his former team and to which he had been linked in the transfer market, he could have his first chance to start, after having only played six minutes in the first three league games.
What seems immovable for Ancelotti, at least for the moment, is the formation with three attackers. There, Vinícius, Mbappé and Rodrygo would be back in the starting eleven after the former Santos player left his place on the right wing in Gran Canaria to a less than successful Brahim Díaz. There will be no surprises in the defensive line either, where Dani Carvajal will return, relegating Lucas Vázquez, who started against Las Palmas, to the bench. Rüdiger, Militao and Mendy will complete the defence.
They will face Manuel Pelligrini’s Betis, who have started the season well, remaining unbeaten in the four official matches they have played. In the League, they have only played two games, and both have ended in draws. However, the team’s performance has been better in Europe, where they have confirmed their presence in the league phase of the Conference League after beating Ukrainian Kryvbas 5-0 on aggregate.
The visit to the Bernabéu will be the second consecutive league match that they will face away from the Benito Villamarín, since their match of the third day against Getafe was postponed due to the European commitment. In the first and last league match played, Betis could not go beyond a 0-0 draw against Deportivo Alavés, in a match in which Pellegrini’s men were superior and only accuracy prevented them from winning.
Betis will be looking to continue their good run at Real Madrid. The Betis are one of the toughest opponents for Real Madrid every time they visit the Bernabéu. Last season they managed a goalless draw in the last league match, leaving Ancelotti’s team without scoring at home, something they have achieved in six of their last seven visits. In fact, the Whites have only won one of their last seven games in which they have had Betis as visitors.
Furthermore, Betis’ current situation is marked by the last day of the transfer market in which they lost their captain Nabil Fekir, who has left for the United Arab Emirates. In his place, the squad has been strengthened with the arrival of Giovani Lo Celso who, in his second spell at the Seville team, could make his debut in the Betis shirt at the Bernabéu. Another who could make his debut is Vitor Roque, on loan from Barça, who could even start.
Finally, with respect to the eleven that won last Thursday in Conference, Pellegrini could introduce up to six changes. To the aforementioned Vitor Roque in attack, the full-backs Sabaly and Perraud would be added; Marc Roca in midfield, and Fornals and William Carvalho in the attacking midfield line.
TECHNICAL SHEET.
–POSSIBLE LINEUPS.
REAL MADRID: Courtois; Carvajal, Rudiger, Militao, Mendy; Chouameni, Valverde, Ceballos; Rodrygo, Vinicius and Mbappe.
BETIS: Rui Silva; Sabaly, Llorente, Natan, Perraud; Cardoso, Marc Roca; Fornals, Carvalho, Abde; and Vitor Roque.
–REFEREE: Alberola Rojas (C.Castellano-manchego).
–STADIUM: Santiago Bernabéu.
–TIME: 21.30/DAZN LaLiga.