Two sides who both recorded draws on the opening day of the season go head to head this weekend as Real Betis travel to the Bernabeu to face Real Madrid in La Liga.
The Madrid side finished as runners-up in the Spanish top flight last season, while Betis are back in La Liga after winning promotion from the Segunda Division
Real Madrid
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Rafael Benitez had a difficult start to life as Real Madrid manager, being held to a goalless draw by newly-promoted Sporting Gijon. The boss will be wary of facing another of the newcomers so soon.
Los Blancos had a tricky run in pre-season, beating the likes of Manchester City, Inter Milan and Tottenham Hotspur, while losing to Bayern Munich and Roma and being held to a goalless draw by Norwegian club Valerenga.
Benitez will be hoping that the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale can help the team rediscover their form in front of goal from last season, having netted 118 times in the league to make them the top scorers in the division.
The side were sloppy at the back at times in the 2014-15 campaign though, letting in 38 goals, almost twice as many as champions Barcelona, while keeping clean sheets in fewer than half of their fixtures.
The club continues to be linked with a number of players in the transfer window, with just a couple of days before the period to sign new players ends. Real have been constantly linked with Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea this season, but may wait to get him on a free next summer. Meanwhile, Karim Benzema has been linked with the Bernabeu exit, but insisted that he is not leaving earlier this week.
Ronaldo was among a number of representatives from the club in Monaco for the Champions League group stage draw, watching the side placed in a group with Paris Saint-Germain, Shakhtar Donetsk and Malmo.
Recent form: WWDWWD
Recent form (all competitions): WWLDWD
Real Betis
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Real Betis returned to the top flight as Segunda Division champions after just one year outside the top flight, sharing a 1-1 draw with Villarreal last weekend. The club have been something of a yo-yo side in recent years, being relegated just two years after their 2011 promotion, before returning at the first time of asking.
Pepe Mel was appointed for a second spell in charge of the side midway through last season following a brief stint at West Bromwich Albion in the Premier League. Since taking up his post in December, Betis have lost just once in the league.
The manager has been busy strengthening his squad in preparation for their return to La Liga over the summer. Betis have brought in Rafael van der Vaart, Didier Digard, and Juan Manuel Vargas all on frees.
Attack was key for Betis last season, as they finished as the joint-highest scorers in the second tier, alongside Las Palmas who were promoted through the playoffs. They netted 73 times in the league, led by Ruben Castro who scored 32 times.
Recent history suggests that Real Betis have a good chance of avoiding the drop, with few teams being relegated after just one season in the top flight. Two of last year's newly-promoted trio finished in the bottom three, although Eibar were later given a reprieve as a result of Elche's financial problems.
Recent form: LLLWLD
Recent form (all competitions): LWLWLD
Team News
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Karim Benzema returned to training this week after three weeks out with a thigh injury, and will be available for this weekend's match providing he does not suffer any setbacks.
Gareth Bale had to undergo a scan after picking up a toe injury against Sporting Gijon last time out, but tests have confirmed that there is no serious damage. Wales manager Chris Coleman was confident enough to include the forward in his squad for the upcoming internationals, so he should be ready to go on Saturday.
However, former Real Madrid midfielder Rafael van der Vaart will not make his debut for his new club this weekend. The Dutchman picked up an ankle sprain at the start of the month, and is not yet ready to return to action.
Javier Matilla has returned to training with Betis after picking up a knock in pre-season, but he is not yet completing full sessions, so the trip to the Bernabeu may come too soon for him.
Real Madrid possible starting lineup:
Navas, Varane, Ramos, Marcelo, Danilo, Ronaldo, Kroos, Bale, Modric, Isco, Benzema
Real Betis possible starting lineup:
Adan, Bruno, Vargas, Piccini, Pezzella, Torres, Cejudo, N'Diaye, Portillo, Molina, Castro
Head To Head
When these two sides last met in the 2013-14 season, Real Madrid secured a comfortable 5-0 victory, giving them their third straight win over Betis.
Betis's last win over Los Blancos was in 2012, when they claimed a narrow 1-0 victory
In 19 previous meetings between the two sides, this weekend's home side have secured 13 wins, while losing just twice to Betis. Two matches have finished level.
We say: Real Madrid 2-1 Real Betis
On paper, Real Madrid should have no problem securing three points against their newly-promoted opponents, but they showed that they are vulnerable against Sporting last time out. Benitez will surely make changes this time out to make sure they avoid the same result.
Sian Cowper
