La Liga leaders Real Madrid could open up a three-point gap at the table’s summit if they are triumphant on their trip to Real Betis this Saturday afternoon.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side are level on points with the division’s shock title contenders Girona after 15 matches. The free-scoring outfit make the short trip to their Catalonian neighbours Barcelona on Sunday night, ensuring that at least one of Madrid’s closest rivals drop points this weekend.
After three decades in management, which have earned him more than 25 major pieces of silverware, Ancelotti will be painfully aware that any lead before Christmas is desperately fragile.
Here’s the lineup that Ancelotti may deploy against Betis so that Madrid can at least watch the Catalan derby with a cushion above second place.
GK: Andriy Lunin – Kepa Arrizabalaga is back fit but Ancelotti has stuck with the Russian understudy who has recorded three clean sheets in five games.
RB: Lucas Vazquez – All the broccoli in the world hasn’t stopped Dani Carvajal from suffering another muscular issue (his diet has long been a fascination of the Spanish press), leaving Vazquez to fill in until January.
CB: Antonio Rudiger – No Madrid player has featured in more league minutes for Ancelotti’s team this season.
CB: David Alaba – Susceptible to crosses this season, Alaba will be pleased to read that Betis have the 18th-lowest aerial win rate in La Liga.
LB: Ferland Mendy – The Frenchman hasn’t started a defeat for Madrid since May.
CM: Fede Valverde – “When you think of the modern midfielder,” Ancelotti mused earlier this year, “you don’t have to look any further than Valverde at this moment in time.”
CM: Toni Kroos – With both Aurelien Tchouameni and Eduardo Camavinga out injured, Kroos is Ancelotti’s last option as a natural defensive midfielder.
CM: Jude Bellingham – While his Spanish may need some work, Bellingham’s performances on the pitch have been impressively fluent.
AM: Brahim Diaz – Desperate to take full advantage of his sparse first-team opportunities, Diaz has directly contributed to four goals from just five starts across all competitions.
ST: Rodrygo – Replacing Bellingham as Madrid’s in-form forward, Rodrygo can boast seven goals in his last five appearances for the club.
ST: Joselu – The rugged centre-forward scored on his first two league visits to Betis’ Benito Villamarin.
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