LIVE: Real Betis vs Real Madrid

22′ CHANCE! That should have been the equaliser! Joaquin delivers an excellent in-swinging cross from a corner on the left, which Mandi rises to meet. Just at the last moment, though, he appears to turn away from the ball, and his glancing header spins wide.

20′ STAT – Madrid have only lost one of their last 19 LaLiga away games – a 2-1 defeat to Girona at in October 2017 – but they have drawn four of their last five. And Betis are certainly starting to test the visitors now, as Vazquez has to direct Firpo’s low cross-cum-shot wide for a corner.

18′ Betis are attacking with confidence, and starting to build-up some promising moves. Moments after a clever pass from Boudebouz is intercepted by Carvajal, Firpo delivers a great cross from the left flank, but Moron can’t direct his effort on target.

15′ CLOSE! Betis respond well to going behind as, at the culmination of a patient move, Boudebouz tees up Joaquin for a strike, which takes a wicked deflection and loops just wide of the left-hand upright.

13′ The flaws in this Betis side are clear to see. They are clever going forward, but have only won two of their last seven LaLiga home games, failing to keep a clean sheet in all seven. And Asensio’s opener means it is now eight without conceding.

Marco Asensio

Goal

11′ GOAL! MADRID TAKE THE LEAD! Well, he was handed a start after a superb display against PSG, and Asensio now has a goal to his name. Betis’ defence give Vazquez too much time to pick out Ronaldo, whose strike is well-saved by Adan. Asensio reacts quickly, though, and is on hand to head home into the bottom-left corner.

9′ Good work from Asensio down the left as the youngster utilises his terrific turn of pace to drive through Betis’ defence. He gets to the byline and cuts back a well-struck cross, but a little deflection takes it into the waiting arms of Adan.

7′ Betis are outnumbering Madrid in midfield, so the onus will be on Casemiro and Kovacic to retain possession and move the visitors forward through the separate thirds of the pitch. Modric is available on the bench, but Zidane has rested Kroos all together for this one.

Daniel Carvajal

Yellow Card

5′ Some panic in Betis’ defence results in Ronaldo latching onto a looping cross from the left. His header lacks any real power, but Bartra is forced into conceding a corner. Madrid make nothing of it, however, with Carvajal having to make a cynical foul to prevent Boudebouz leading a counter-attack.

4′ Brilliant hold-up play from Moron, who has enjoyed a fine breakthrough into Betis’ senior side in recent weeks. He does well to take the ball down and get away from Ramos before laying it off to the veteran Joaquin, who spreads the play with a great pass. Marcelo, however, gets across to dispossess Barragan.

3′ STAT – Madrid have won six of their last nine games at Benito Villamarin in LaLiga, and they have only failed to score in one of their last 17 visits to Betis.

1′ KICK-OFF! In front of a full house at Benito Villamarin, Betis – donning their famous green-and-white kit – get proceedings underway.

Gareth Bale also comes in, with Karim Benzema dropping to the bench. In midfield, Mateo Kovacic and Lucas Vazquez replace Toni Kroos and Isco respectively, while Luka Modric is the player to make way for Asensio. In defence, Dani Carvajal is back in place of Raphael Varane, who is joined on the bench by former Betis star Dani Ceballos.

Marco Asensio’s introduction against PSG proved vital on Wednesday, as the youngster claimed two assists to swing the tie in Madrid’s favour. He is rewarded for his efforts with a start tonight, in a much-changed line-up.

Real Madrid substitutes: Varane, Benzema, Modric, Casilla, Hernandez, Isco, Ceballos.

Real Madrid (4-4-2): Navas; Carvajal, Ramos, Nacho, Marcelo; Vazquez, Casemiro, Kovacic, Asensio; Bale, Ronaldo.

Quique Setien has utilised a three-at-the-back system more often than not this term, and that doesn’t change tonight, as the Betis boss makes just one change to the side that beat Deportivo La Coruna last time out – Antonio Barragan replacing Francis Guerrero.

Real Betis substitutes: Garcia, Leon, Camarasa, Durmisi, Tello, Francis, Lopez.

Real Betis (3-5-2): Adan; Mandi, Bartra, Amat; Barragan, Boudebouz, Ruiz, Guardado, Firpo; Joaquin, Moron.

Team news…

However, Zinedine Zidane’s side will have been buoyed by their 3-1 victory over Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of their Champions League last 16 encounter on Wednesday, and a win at Benito Villamarin tonight would move them to within one point of third-placed Valencia.

Madrid sit fourth, just two points ahead of the chasing pack. Their disappointing season is summed up by the fact they are – as it stands before this clash – 20 points shy of league leaders Barcelona, and 13 adrift of local rivals Atletico Madrid.

Betis beat Madrid in dramatic style at Santiago Bernabeu back in September, and the Andalusian club – still well in the hunt for a European place – are looking to win two games against Los Blancos in the same LaLiga season for the first time since 1998/99.

Hello and welcome to LIVE coverage of tonight’s LaLiga action, as Real Betis play host to the mighty Real Madrid.