Real Madrid vs Real Betis Preview & Prediction | 2023-24 Spanish Primera
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Up against his former side Real Madrid, Manuel Pellegrini takes Real Betis to the home of the champions in what will simply be a farewell to Toni Kroos at the Bernabeu this weekend.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Saturday 25th May, 2024 - UK – 20:00 / US EST – 15:00 / US PST – 13:00
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: This match will be televised live on Viaplay Sports in the UK. / This match will not be televised live in the US.
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: This match will be streamed live the Viaplay Sports app in the UK. / This match will be streamed live via ESPN+ in the US.
REAL MADRID PREVIEW: AUF WIEDERSEHEN, TONI
During the week, Real Madrid and Germany’s legendary central midfielder Toni Kroos announced that he would be retiring from all football at the end of Germany’s UEFA EURO 2024 campaign this summer. He could also be departing the sport as a UEFA Champions League winner as Los Blancos prepare to face Borussia Dortmund in the final next week at Wembley Stadium.
Since getting past Dortmund’s Bundesliga rivals Bayern Munich in the semi-finals in typically dramatic fashion with a late turnaround, Madrid have enjoyed collecting seven points from three matches in the league, scoring 13 goals in the process. They have suffered just two defeats all season with both coming at the Metropolitano against city rivals Atletico Madrid.
REAL BETIS PREVIEW: PERFECTLY RESPECTABLE CAMPAIGN
Manuel Pellegrini, like a few coaches in Spain, has been dealing with something of a financial crisis down at the Benito Villamarin but some impressive January recruits has helped the Andalusians to steady a mid-season blip that saw them stunned by Dinamo Zagreb in the knockout playoffs of the UEFA Europa Conference League.
That blip has been overcome, though, and they have fended off the challenge of Valencia for a spot in the top seven, meaning that Betis will once again be playing UEFA Europa Conference League football next season. They were, though, most recently comfortably beaten by two goals to nil at home against Real Sociedad last weekend.
REAL MADRID TEAM NEWS: ALABA, TCHOUAMENI STILL OUT
With the UEFA Champions League final next week, Real Madrid are sweating on the fitness of French midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni with it being unlikely he makes the trip to Wembley, whilst David Alaba also remains unavailable for Los Blancos.
PREDICTED XI (4-1-2-1-2): Courtois; Carvajal, Militao, Rudiger, Mendy; Kroos; Valverde, Camavinga; Bellingham; Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo
UNAVAILABLE: Alaba (Injured), Tchouameni (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
REAL BETIS TEAM NEWS: ISCO LIKELY TO MISS EUROS
Isco has had a magnificent campaign for Manuel Pellegrini this season but the former Malaga man has picked up an ankle injury that has ruled him out of the growing calls to go to UEFA EURO 2024. Marc Bartra and Barcelona-bound Guido Rodriguez also remain unavailable.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Silva; Sabaly, Sokratis, Riad, Miranda; Cardoso, Carvalho; Fornals, Fekir, Ayoze; Willian Jose
UNAVAILABLE: Guido Rodriguez (Injured), Isco (Injured), Pezzella (Injured), Bartra (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE: Bakambu (Injured), Avila (Injured)
REAL MADRID VS REAL BETIS PREDICTION
Madrid don’t lose. Even when you think there is no way for them to not lose, they simply always find a way and that reputation has only grown in extraordinary ways this year. They will want to use this game to finish what has been an outstanding league campaign but also prepare for the aforementioned tilt at a 15th European Cup. Betis may well have checked out and the injury to Isco, a key man throughout the season, will not help that feeling go away so backing a fairly comfortable Madrid win seems a safe bet.
REAL MADRID VS REAL BETIS TIP: REAL MADRID TO WIN & OVER 2.5 GOALS
