League leaders Real Madrid will look to extend their winning streak as they take on Real Betis at the Benito Villamarín, in what is expected to be a challenging fixture for the Merengues.
Match details
Date: Saturday, 9th December 2023
Competition: La Liga
Matchday: 16
Time: 17:15 CEST
Venue: Estadio Benito Villamarín
Match preview
Real Madrid will step onto the field after an easy 2-0 victory at the Bernabeu last week against 19th-place Granada. The match against Real Betis will be challenging despite Betis being highly inconsistent in the league, with them being placed 7th.
Every fixture for Real Madrid will be key as Girona are chasing them for the top spot in the league, with the same points, and FC Barcelona also not far behind on the table. Madrid will look to continue with their winning momentum and further solidify their position as league toppers.
Real Betis last faced Almeria away from home in the league that ended up in a 0-0 stalemate. They’ve been inconsistent this season with 6 wins and 7 draws out of their 15 games. They will be without the services of Nabil Fekir, William Carvalho, Claudio Bravo, and Hector Bellerin being suspended for this match.
Their task will be cut out as they’ve scored just 18 goals so far and would be coming up against the best defense in Europe this season. For Betis, the player to watch out for would be Isco who’s going through a purple patch and would be coming up against his former side.
Kepa Arrizabalaga returns from injury and will replace Lunin between the sticks. The centre-back pairing of Rudiger and Alaba have stood up this season in the absence of Eder Militao and will keep their place in the playing XI for this match.
Dani Carvajal is injured and will be out for 3-4 weeks hence his place will be taken up by Lucas Vazquez and Ferland Mendy will continue as the left-back.
In the last match against Granada, Carlo Ancelotti deployed a new 4-4-2 diamond formation and will expectedly continue with that. Modric will return to the starting lineup and will partner with Fede Valverde and Toni Kroos – who will be the pivot.
Golden Boy winner, Jude Bellingham will look to keep up his staggering form this season and will play as the diamond in the formation. Joselu may be replaced with Brahim Diaz, who has impressed the Madridistas and Ancelotti himself to earn a place as a starter in the previous few matches.
After a quiet start to the season, Rodrygo has scored 5 goals and assisted thrice in the last three matches in La Liga, and will keep his place on the left in Vinicius’ absence. He will partner Brahim upfront.
The Benito Villamarín has been a fortress for Betis as they have been unbeaten in the league whenever they’ve played there. With the winning momentum their way, Real Madrid will expectedly go with all guns blazing and with many players peaking at the right time, would look to grab the three points.
