Real Madrid will be aiming to bounce back from Thursday’s defeat in El Clasico when they continue their La Liga campaign away to Real Betis on Sunday night.

Los Blancos lost 1-0 to Barcelona in the first leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final last time out, while Real Betis will enter the match off the back of a 3-2 victory at Elche in the league on February 24.

Real Betis started this season with three straight La Liga (LL) wins before losing 2-1 to Real Madrid in the reverse fixture, and having recently achieved another league hat-trick by beating Almería, Valladolid and Elche, they must again try to beat the reigning champions to make it four in a row. However, they will enter this battle without key man Nabil Fekir, who is out for the season with a serious knee injury.

His exit took the shine off their 3-2 win at Elche and his absence will be keenly felt against Madrid, who Betis have only beaten once in the last eight home H2Hs (D1, L6). This is therefore a tough return to Estadio Benito Villamarín for Betis, where they’ve won just one of their last six home league games (D2, L3).

Madrid’s midweek 1-0 Copa del Rey semi-final first leg defeat to Barcelona was another blow to their already slim hopes of landing a quintuple this season, given they trailed their rivals by seven points in the league following the last matchday. They’ve not yet gone three competitive games without a win this term (D1, L1), so maintaining that record is essential if they’re to keep pressure on the leaders, particularly as Barcelona play before them.

But Los Blancos have alternated between wins ‘to nil’ and defeats by single-goal margins on the road in La Liga recently (W4, L3) so that pattern could spell danger for manager Carlo Ancelotti. Coincidentally, their last defeat to Betis came here in March 2020, so there are no guarantees against a side gunning for UEFA Champions League qualification.

Players to watch: Betis’ Borja Iglesias has already matched his tally of ten LL goals from last season, with the last five of those coming after the 60th minute. Madrid’s Karim Benzema is one goal ahead of him and more likely to strike early given his last three LL goals arrived before half-time.

Hot stat: Betis have scored in ten of their 11 home league games this term (W6, D2, L3).

Real Betis La Liga form:

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Real Madrid La Liga form:

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Real Madrid form (all competitions):

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Real Betis possible starting lineup:

Bravo; Ruibal, Pezzella, Felipe, Miranda; Carvalho, Rodriguez; Henrique, Perez, Juanmi; Iglesias

Real Madrid possible starting lineup:

Courtois; Carvajal, Militao, Rudiger, Nacho; Ceballos, Tchouameni, Camavinga; Valverde, Benzema, Vinicius

This is a very tough match for Real Madrid, and it would not be a surprise to see them drop valuable points on Sunday night. Ancelotti will have his team fired-up following the loss to Barcelona, though, and we are tipping Los Blancos to navigate their way to a huge three points in Seville.