La Liga Preview: Real Betis - Real Madrid

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Higuain, Raul, De la Red, Real Madrid-Sporting (Marca)

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Déjà Vu For Betis

There is a sense of déjà vu at the Betis camp with the way they have started this 08/09 campaign. Just like last term, and even perhaps the one before, there was a lot of promise and hope of success throughout the pre-season simply because of the team that they had managed to assemble during the summer months.

But once the real competition gets underway, the team underperforms horribly. They have started this season in almost exactly the same fashion as they did the last: drawing two and losing two in their first four games. The Andalucians didn’t register a win until Matchweek Six last year and the parallels could continue this campaign as they take on a rampaging Real Madrid on Saturday for Round Five.

However, Los Verdiblancos have had this tendency in recent meetings to come from behind against the two superpowers of La Liga, Barcelona and Real Madrid, to force an upset result. They came from behind to inflict a surprise defeat on the pair last term and it almost happened again three days ago at the Camp Nou when Paco Chaparro’s men rallied from two goals down to tie the contest at 2-2, but eventually succumbed to an Eidur Gudjohnsen winner.

Speaking of last season and of victories, the Andaluz side have not won a competitive match since the 19^th of April 2007. Their last five games of the 07/08 program ended with four draws and one loss and, as mentioned before, their first four outings of this campaign have yet to yield a win.

Add to that, Betis also have a poor record against Madrid. Their 2-1 home triumph over the merengues last season was their first ever win against the capital side in 17 attempts in all competitions over the last seven years. It’s not the kind of statistic you would want to take into a game against an opposition who is hitting form at the right time.

Seventh Heaven

Indeed, Los Blancos are on a wave of high after their 7-1 annihilation of Sporting Gijón in midweek. Granted, the newly-promoted outfit were completely out of sorts and out of their depth but the real highlight of Madrid’s performance, the scoreline aside, was the impressive shots to goal ratio: 16 shots, 12 on target, seven scored.

It’s a much more effective display compared to the tally that they had a week prior in the Champions League against BATE Borisov, where they amassed 29 shots at goal, but just nine on target and only two ended up in the back of the net.

The improvement in terms of cohesion and understanding between the players has also been evident. Everyone on the pitch appears to have their frequencies finally in tune and collectively, they are playing like a team again: forwards and midfielders helping to defend, defenders and midfielders helping to attack. If they can carry on in this vein, their failed summer transfer market dealings might just be forgotten and forgiven.

The hazard for coach Bernd Schuster this weekend is that his players will have one eye on the very complicated trip to Russia to face UEFA Cup champions Zenit St. Petersburg on Tuesday in the Champions League.

The German could be tempted to continue rotating his squad ever so subtly, just as he did against Sporting, but he is aware that Betis are a dangerous outfit, in spite of what their form guide may suggest.

The ultimate confidence booster for the reigning league champions will be to head into their clash with Zenit as the new La Liga leaders. There’s a chance of that happening if other results go their way but first, they will have to beat Betis in Saturday’s early kick-off.

FORM GUIDE

Real Betis

Sep 24 FC Barcelona 3-2 Real Betis (LA LIGA)

Sep 21 Real Betis 0-0 Sevilla FC (LA LIGA)

Sep 14 Getafe 0-0 Real Betis (LA LIGA)

Aug 31 Real Betis 0-1 Recreativo Huelva (LA LIGA)

Aug 23 Almería 3-1 Real Betis (MEMORIAL JUAN ROJAS)

Real Madrid

Sep 24 Real Madrid 7-1 Sporting Gijón (LA LIGA)

Sep 21 Racing Santander 0-2 Real Madrid (LA LIGA)

Sep 17 Real Madrid 2-0 BATE Borisov (CHAMPIONS LEAGUE)

Sep 14 Real Madrid 4-3 Numancia (LA LIGA)

Aug 31 Deportivo La Coruña 2-1 Real Madrid (LA LIGA)

TEAM NEWS

Real Betis

Striker Xisco is out with an ankle injury but he has the good fortune of avoiding the operating table and will thus require only six weeks to recuperate. Fellow forward Edu has made a complete recovery from his muscular ailment but he is nowhere near match fit.

The Brazilian has earmarked next week’s clash with Villarreal as the earliest possible return date, although the following match against Mallorca looks more probable. Winger David Odonkor is the only other injury casualty and he is sidelined for the rest of the year.

Probable Starting XI (4-1-4-1): Casto – Nélson, Arzu, Juanito (c), Fernando Vega – Aurélio – Sergio García, Emana, Capi, Mark González – Pavone

Real Madrid

Midfielders Guti and Wesley Sneijder should be ready to return to action next week as they stay on schedule to recover from their respective injuries. Fernando Gago, however, is still at least three weeks away from any sort of comeback as he nurses a thigh muscle damage.

Sergio Ramos and Ruud van Nistelrooy, who were both rested in the midweek win against Sporting, look certain to be reinstated to the first XI, while Gabriel Heinze could also make the starting berth either at leftback or as a centre half.

Probable Starting XI (4-3-3): Casillas – Sergio Ramos, Cannavaro, Pepe, Heinze – Van der Vaart, Diarrà, De la Red – Higuaín, Van Nistelrooy, Raul (c)

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Real Betis

Sergio García showed flashes of brilliance against Barcelona, eventhough it may only have been for nothing more than a quick ten, fifteen minute spell. But he is showing signs of improvement as he continues to settle in to his new surroundings and he’ll be using this big game as a springboard to kick-start his season and indeed his career as a Bético. Emana has also looked impressive thus far. Although he is still not yet the finished article, the potential certainly is there.

Real Madrid

The likes of Raúl and van der Vaart will be the key figures, should they play, after their stunning midweek exploits. But the one man to keep an eye out for will be Rubén de la Red. The youngster has been amazing in the few games where he has been given the chance to shine, but he knows that he will not have too many more opportunities to impress once the midfield regulars return from their injuries and his playing time begin to dwindle.

PREDICTION

Meetings between these two sides rarely produce a gluttony of goals, especially at the Ruiz de Lopera and Madrid will not be expecting another feast. Neither will their opponents. Betis will happily settle for a straightforward, no thrills, no frills win to get the three points under their belts, as will Madrid who will be looking for the morale boosting victory to take to Europe.

With the men in white already cranking into fourth and fifth gears and the Andalucians still struggling to locate the shift stick, the visitors should have the edge in this game.

Real Betis 1-2 Real Madrid

KS Leong