Los Blancos will be playing host to Real Betis on Matchday 33 of La Liga Santander at the Alfredo de Stefano Stadium on Saturday evening. Real Madrid cannot afford to drop any further points this season if they wish to win the Primera Division title for a second year on the bounce.
Real Betis have had an amazing 2020/21 season and are currently placed 6th in the points table. It would be interesting to see if they can get even a point from their trip to the Spanish capital on Saturday. Real Madrid were triumphant in their last league encounter against Cadiz.
It is no news that Real Madrid have struggled massively with injuries this season, and it does not really seem to be the end of it yet. Sergio Ramos, Lucas Vasquez, Luka Modric, Ferland Mendy, and Eden Hazard are yet to recover from their injury setbacks and would not be part of proceedings on Saturday evening.
Federico Valverde is the latest addition to the absentee list after being diagnosed with coronavirus. Here’s how Zinedine Zidane could line up his troops against a determined-looking Real Betis side.
3-4-3 Real Madrid Predicted Line-Up Against Real Betis
Defence
Thibaut Courtois will be taking command in goal following a clean-sheet against Cadiz during Real’s last game. The Belgian has amassed 14 clean sheets this season and is just one shy of the leader, Jan Oblak. Courtois will certainly want to conclude the season as the top-performing goalie.
Eder Militao will start on the right-hand side of the three-man back-line. Raphael Varane put up an impressive performance on his return from injury and will want to build on that against Betis before Real are put to the task against Chelsea in the UEFA Champions League. Nacho Fernandez will start on the left-hand side of Varane. The player has stepped up at a crucial time of the season and delivered the goods for the reigning La Liga Champions.
Midfield
Dani Carvajal will pave his way back into the starting line-up after a good return from injury against Cadiz off the substitutes bench. Zidane would want to season his defender and give him adequate playing time before the vital semi-final clash against Chelsea. It will be interesting to see Carvajal feature in this advanced role under the new formation being put to use by Zidane.
Casemiro and Isco will start in the heart of Real’s midfield. It will be another opportunity for Isco to prove his worth to the Santiago Bernabeu faithful. Hopefully, Isco will be up to this task. Marcelo will start in the left-wing-back position as he did against Cadiz in the absence of Ferland Mendy.
Attack
Marco Asensio will return to the starting eleven and replace Rodrygo, who has not made the most of the opportunities in recent matches. Karim Benzema will be leading the attack line as he has done all season. The Frenchman has been in scintillating goal-scoring form this season and will want to add to his tally of 20 goals for the season domestically. Vinicius Jr will start on the left of Benzema and occupy the last position up for grabs in the starting eleven.
Real Madrid Predicted Line-Up Against Real Betis
