Zinedine Zidane will undertake his first away game as the head coach of Real Madrid when his side travel to Seville to take on the promoted Real Betis at Estadio Benito Villaramin this Sunday. After thumping wins at home against Deportivo and Sporting Gijon, Los Blancos play their first game away from home under their new manager, aiming to keep the renewed momentum going.
Real Madrid have appeared far more relentless and free-flowing under Zidane than they were under their previous gaffer, Rafael Benitez. All the simmering tensions that were hovering over the club have thawed out and hope has been reinstated. The club is slowly climbing its way out of the lurch and is on its way to the top.
El Glorioso were battered 5-0 by the Whites when the sides met in the league earlier this season, and considering their recent struggles, are staring down the barrel of the gun again. The Andalusian outfit haven’t scored in the last 7 games and are winless in the last 10. Manager Pepe Mel was sacked after their crushing 4-0 defeat to Sevilla and interim coach, Juan Merino, will experience a baptism of fire in his job when he leads his side against the Spanish leviathans.
Here’s everything you need to know about the game:
Kickoff and Telecast
Date and Time: Monday, 25th January 2016, 01:00 AM (IST)
Telecast: Sony Six, SIX HD
Venue: Estadio Benito Villaramin, Seville.
Team News
Hosts Real Betis have no fresh injury concern to deal with, but midfielder Dani Ceballos may return to the line-up after getting dropped during the trip for the Villareal game last week. Summer recruit Rafael Van der Vaart continues his recovery in the treatment room.
Real Madrid will make the trip without Welshman Gareth Bale, who sustained a calf muscle injury in their last outing, but will be buoyed by the return of defender Sergio Ramos and striker Karim Benzema as they were back in training and are in line to start the game on Sunday.
Probable line-ups:
Real Betis (4-5-1): Adan; Piccini, Pezella, Gonzalez, Vargas; Petros, Ceballos, Kadir, Ruiz, Cejudo; Castro
Real Madrid (4-4-2): Navas; Carvajal, Ramos, Pepe, Marcelo, Kroos, Modric, Isco, James; Ronaldo, Benzema
Form Guide:
Real Betis are currently on a melt-down. Without a win in the last 10 games in all competitions, the Seville side are on one of their worst runs in the recent memory and a return to the second tier seems increasingly likely. Manager Pepe Mel was given the boot last week, and caretaker boss Juan Merino has a monumental task of keeping the side afloat, ahead of him.
Last 5 matches: L-L-L-L-D (Last result: Villareal 0-0 Real Betis)
The visitors for the tie, Real Madrid, are riding a wave of confidence under Zinedine Zidane and playing with a new sense of vim and vigor. Although the two victories under him, 5-0 and 5-1 against Depor and Gijon respectively, can be taken with a pinch of salt as they are yet to face a stern test, the players look happier and have forged an increased understanding between them.
They appear to be a force again and Zidane would want his side to continue in the same vein till the end of the campaign.
Last 5 matches: W-W-D-W-W (Last result: Real Madrid 5-1 Sporting Gijon)
Key stats:
- Real Betis have not scored a single goal in the last 6 league games.
- Real Betis have lost by a score of 4-0 in 3 of their last 5 matches (against Barcelona, Eibar and Sevilla).
- The last time Real Madrid were at the Villaramin arena (18th January 2014), they left the field 5-0 victors.
- Real Madrid have won 7 of their last 10 meetings with Real Betis.
Real Madrid have won only 4 of the 9 away games in the league this season (Draw-2, Lost-2).
Prediction:
Without a shadow of doubt, Real Madrid are well placed to nick this one hassle free. They’ve been firing at all cylinders again and don’t seem to drop points here whatsoever. Betis, on the other side, are embroiled in a serious turmoil. Winless in the last 10 matches and without a goal in the last 7, only a monumental upset can save them from another beating.
Predicted score: Real Betis 0-4 Real Madrid
Betting Odds (bet365)
Real Betis – 25/1
Draw – 9/1
Real Madrid – 1/10
