Real Madrid vs Real Betis 03/11/19

3 November 2019

Real Madrid continue to chase down Barcelona at the top of the La Liga (LL) table as they host Real Betis to the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu this weekend.

Although the hosts won just two of their last four LL fixtures (D1, L1), they are still lagging only one point behind the arch-rivals. Home games have been the main source of points for Real Madrid this term, with Los Blancos acquiring 61% of their total league points at the Bernabeu (13 of 21). After a dismal 1-1 draw with Valladolid in their home curtain-raiser, Los Merengues have put together four straight LL home triumphs, three of which have seen them score at least three goals. What’s more, each of Real’s last three LL home victories has come via a multiple-goal margin, with Zinedine Zidane’s men taking a two-goal cushion into halftime in the previous two.

Meanwhile, the visitors come into this meeting frantically looking over their shoulders, as they sit just three points clear of the relegation zone. A 2-1 home win over Celta Vigo last time out has, however, helped Betis to bring a disappointing four-game winless LL streak to a halt (D1, L3), and it was also the first time since late September that they’ve scored over 1.5 goals per LL fixture. However, although ‘Los Verdiblancos’ have come off better in their previous two LL visits to Real Madrid without conceding a single goal, things have not worked well for ‘Los Lobos’ when away from home this term. The ‘Verderones’ have picked up only one point in five LL away games so far, with three of their four LL road losses seeing them concede at least three goals.