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Real Madrid continue life under Zinedine Zidane, as they face a crucial test in Sevilla against local team Real Betis. Match counting for the Spanish La Liga, 21st round.
15th placed Betis is not such a bad side and should be able to avoid relegation, but if they do not improve quickly, they might find themselves playing second division football next season. The hosts got their first point in 6 matches in all competition last round, a 0-0 draw against Villarreal, a match in which they actually played very well. However, the draw came after 5 successive defeats and Betis has not won a match in almost 2 months, also failing to score in the last 7 outings!
Zinedine Zidane’s first two matches in charge were brilliant, as Real Madrid cruised to victories over Deportivo (5-0) and Sporting Gijon (5-1). Granted, both games were at home against inferior opposition, but there is an obvious change in player morale, which was all that a team like Real Madrid needed. 5 points behind Barcelona, “Los Blancos” face a key match in Sevilla and anything else but a win would put a huge dent in their title aspirations.
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Team news & lineups:
Piccini and Westermann are out for Betis, while Real Madrid only misses Gareth Bale.
Betis Sevilla: Adan – Molinero, Pezella, Gonzalez, Vargas – Petros, Ceballos, Kadir, Ruiz, Cejudo – Castro
Real Madrid: Navas – Carvajal, Ramos, Pepe, Marcelo – Kroos, Modric, Isco – James (Jese), Ronaldo, Benzema
Betis does not look like a team able to pull off an upset against a rejuvenated and motivated Real Madrid side. The hosts played very well last round, but overall their form is horrid. Home court advantage won’t be of much help, as Betis has an absolutely abysmal record in Sevilla, by far the worst home record in La Liga: 1 win, 3 draws and 5 losses.
I expect Real Madrid to claim a confident, solid win here. The team is playing well, the players are happy again and the struggles with injuries are over, as Real is healthier than ever ahead of this match. Look for the visitors to put pressure from the start, dominate the game and score 2 or 3 times against this underachieving Betis team. As for the hosts, well, they have not scored a single goal in the last 7 matches in all competitions.
All things taken into account, my tip is Real Madrid to win and cover the 1,25 goal asian handicap. Prediction: Betis Sevilla – Real Madrid 0-3.
Pick: Real Madrid (-1,25 Asian Handicap)
Odds: 1.69 @ Pinnacle
Stake: 8
Possible profit: 5.52
Event date: 24 January
