Real Betis vs Real Madrid: La Liga – teams, start time, lineup | Football News
Real Madrid Seeks to Narrow La Liga Gap Against Real Betis
Real Madrid aims to reduce the gap with La Liga leaders Barcelona to six points on Friday, as they face Real Betis in Seville. This clash comes three weeks ahead of their anticipated Clasico meeting.
Match Details:
- Who: Real Betis vs. Real Madrid
- What: Spanish La Liga
- Where: Estadio La Cartuja de Sevilla, Seville, Spain
- When: Friday at 9 p.m. local time (20:00 GMT)
- How to Follow: Coverage will begin on Al Jazeera Sport at 5 p.m. GMT, leading into live text commentary.
As they prepare for this key fixture, Real Madrid finds themselves in a crucial moment in the season. Any slip-up could diminish their chances of silverware this year, especially with Barcelona winning 1-0 against Celta Vigo on Wednesday.
Both teams have faced challenges this season, having been eliminated from the UEFA Champions League, where they were once seen as favorites. With only six rounds of La Liga matches remaining, the focus has shifted entirely to the domestic league.
Barcelona currently holds a nine-point advantage over Real Madrid, following their recent victory. The disparity has widened significantly, particularly as Madrid has struggled, securing only one win in their last three league matches.
Real’s performance has deteriorated recently after an impressive start to the season. They began with 13 wins in the first 14 matches under coach Xabi Alonso, but have since faced back-to-back defeats in March against Osasuna and Getafe. Their latest victory came from a 2-1 match against Alaves on Tuesday, which was their first win in five games.
Looking forward, a significant match awaits when Real Madrid faces Barcelona on May 10. This encounter will offer an opportunity to cut into Barcelona’s lead, albeit solely by three points.
The last meeting between Real Madrid and Real Betis on January 4 ended in a decisive 5-1 victory for Madrid, featuring a hat-trick from Gonzalo Garcia. In contrast, last season’s corresponding fixture saw Betis come from behind to win 2-1, showcasing the competitive nature of this matchup.
In terms of head-to-head statistics, this meeting marks the 143rd confrontation between the two teams, with Real Madrid winning 78 times compared to Betis’ 32 victories.
Team News:
Real Betis welcomes back Antony after a suspension, while Junior Firpo remains sidelined due to injury. Diego Llorente and Angel Ortiz are under assessment for potential involvement despite ongoing issues.
For Real Madrid, injuries compound their challenges, with Eder Militao and Arda Guler officially ruled out for the season due to thigh injuries. Neither player, however, is expected to miss the upcoming World Cup.
Predicted Starting Lineups:
- Real Betis: Valles; Bellerin, Bartra, Natan, Rodriguez; Amrabat, Roca; Antony, Fornals, Ezzalzouli; Hernandez
- Real Madrid: Lunin; Alexander-Arnold, Rudiger, Huijsen, Carreras; Valverde, Bellingham, Tchouameni, Guler; Vinicius, Mbappe
