Real Madrid vs Real Betis

Underperforming Real Madrid will seek redemption for a stuttering La Liga start when they take on Real Betis at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu.

Real Madrid’s lofty ambitions after lifting the Champions League and La Liga titles last season have crumbled at the start of the new campaign despite Kylian Mbappe’s long-awaited arrival from PSG. Carlo Ancelotti’s side slumped to a disappointing 1-1 draw at Las Palmas during the weekend, registering a second stalemate in three league matches (W1, D2). With Mbappe yet to click with Vinicius Junior, Los Blancos may need another hero to overcome this mini-crisis, but playing at the Santiago Bernabeu should help. They’re unbeaten in their last 25 league outings on their home ground (W21, D4), though upcoming rivals Betis are one of the two sides that have held them goalless during that stretch. Frustratingly for Real Madrid’s high standards, four of the last five H2Hs they’ve hosted have ended 0-0 (W1).

As for Real Betis, their La Liga campaign has been off to an unenviable start, with a scoreless draw at Deportivo Alaves following a 1-1 stalemate against Girona at home. On a more positive note, they’ve landed a berth in the Europa Conference League proper after dispatching Kryvbas 5-0 on aggregate in their qualification playoff tie. Despite the odds being stacked against them here, Manuel Pellegrini’s men are no strangers to upsetting Real Madrid, avoiding defeat in six of their last seven H2Hs (W2, D4, L1). With three clean sheets from their four competitive matches this season, Los Verdiblancos will seek another shutout in the capital. But it may not be enough to prevent them from starting a league season on a three-game winless run for only the second time in ten years.