Real Madrid will be aiming to make it six straight wins in all competitions when they continue their La Liga campaign away to Real Betis on Saturday afternoon.
Los Blancos have posted three successive victories in Spain's top flight, which has helped them regain first position in the table from surprise package Girona, while Real Betis occupy seventh position, picking up 25 points from their opening 15 matches of the campaign.
Match preview
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Real Betis will enter this weekend's contest off the back of a 2-1 victory over Villanovense in the Copa del Rey on Wednesday, which allowed them to progress to the third round of the competition, while they are in a strong position in their Europa League group ahead of the final matchday.
Indeed, Manuel Pellegrini's side sit top of Group C on nine points, one clear of second-placed Rangers, while they are two clear of third-placed Sparta Prague, with the final fixtures taking place on December 14.
Real Betis boast a record of six wins, seven draws and two defeats from their 15 La Liga matches this season, which has seen them collect 25 points to sit seventh in the table, only three points behind fifth-placed Athletic Bilbao on the same number of games, but they were held to a goalless draw by basement side Almeria last time out.
Only the top three - Real Madrid, Girona and Barcelona (all one) - have lost fewer league games than Real Betis this season, but too many draws have prevented them from pushing into the top four at this stage.
The Green and Whites have not beaten Real Madrid in Spain's top flight since March 2020, but the two teams played out a goalless draw in the corresponding game during the 2022-23 campaign, while Pellegrini's side have won each of their last four league matches in front of their own supporters.
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Real Madrid, meanwhile, will enter this match off the back of a 2-0 victory over Granada in La Liga last weekend, with Brahim Diaz and Rodrygo on the scoresheet for the hosts at Bernabeu.
Los Blancos are currently missing a number of important players through injury, but they are in impressive form, winning each of their last five matches in all competitions, including two victories in the Champions League, which has seen them secure their spot in the last-16 stage of the competition as Group C winners.
Carlo Ancelotti's side will head to Germany for their final group-stage fixture with Union Berlin next week, but it will be a pressure-free contest for the Spanish outfit.
Since losing 3-1 at Atletico Madrid on September 24, Real Madrid have won seven and drawn two of their nine matches in La Liga, and a total of 38 points has left them at the top of the table, but they are only leading second-placed Girona on the head-to-head record between the two teams.
Los Blancos are four points ahead of third-placed Barcelona, and Ancelotti's side will undoubtedly be targeting three league wins ahead of the winter break against Real Betis, Villarreal and Alaves, which would leave them in a strong position in the table ahead of the second half of the campaign.
Team News
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Real Betis will be missing Nabil Fekir, William Carvalho, Claudio Bravo, Youssouf Sabaly and Marc Bartra for this weekend's match due to fitness issues, while Rodri remains a major doubt due to a muscular problem.
The home side will also have to work around the absence of Hector Bellerin, as the experienced defender was sent off in the goalless draw with Almeria in the league last time out.
There will be changes from the side that started in the Copa del Rey during the week, with Marc Roca, Assane Diao, Aitor Ruibal and Abner among those expected to come into the XI for this contest.
As for Real Madrid, the visitors are hopeful that Luka Modric will be able to return from a thigh issue, as the experienced midfielder is back in training.
Kepa Arrizabalaga, meanwhile, could return between the sticks, with the on-loan Chelsea goalkeeper available again after a muscular issue, but the league leaders still have a number of absentees.
Vinicius Junior, Eduardo Camavinga, Arda Guler, Aurelien Tchouameni, Eder Militao and Thibaut Courtois are all still out, in addition to Dani Carvajal, who will miss the rest of the year due to a calf issue.
Brahim Diaz has been in good form of late, and the attacker is set to retain his spot in the XI, which could mean that Joselu drops down to the bench if Modric is deemed fit enough to start this weekend.
Real Betis possible starting lineup:
Silva; Ruibal, Pezzella, Riad, Abner; Rodriguez, Roca; Diao, Isco, Perez; Willian Jose
Real Madrid possible starting lineup:
Kepa; Vazquez, Rudiger, Alaba, Mendy; Valverde, Kroos, Modric; Bellingham; Rodrygo, Diaz
We say: Real Betis 1-2 Real Madrid
Real Betis are more than capable of picking up a positive result in this match, and it would not be a surprise to see a home win, or indeed a draw. Real Madrid are finding ways to win games at the moment, though, and we are expecting Ancelotti's side to secure a narrow victory in Seville this weekend.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Matt Law
