Real Madrid winger Gareth Bale (Photo : Reuters)
Perennial contenders Real Madrid CF (0-0-1, 1 point) will try to bounce back from their disappointing goalless opening game and snatch their first win of the new La Liga season against namesake Real Betis Balompié (0-0-1, 1 point), who also opened their stint with a tie.
The match will be held at Real's Santiago Bernabéu Stadium on Saturday, August 29.
Los Blancos was held to a 0-0 draw by Sporting de Gijón on Sunday at the latter's El Molinón ground in Asturias.
Although Real controlled the ball in majority of the match and pressed on with 15 to 1 chances on goal created, Los Vikingos still was not able to find the back of the net and give new manager Rafa Benitez his first La Liga win, as per Bleacher Report. Still, Benitez should be glad he did not open his Madrid stint with a loss.
Meanwhile, Los Béticos forced Villarreal CF to a 1-1 tie in their opener also on Sunday at their home field of Estadio Benito Villamarín.
Manager Pepe Mel made sure that Los Verdiblancos will not open their La Liga comeback with a loss and so a draw is a welcome result. Verderones Striker Rubén Castro saved the day for Mel as he scored a goal in the 87th-minute to equalize the count, as reported by ESPN.
Prediction: Real Madrid over Real Betis, 1-0. Still a low scoring game by Bernabéu standards, but Benitez would start at the defensive end in getting his first win for his new team.
Real Madrid starting lineup (4-3-3 formation): Navas; Marcelo, Varane, Ramos, Danilo; Modrić, Kroos, Isco; Bale, Ronaldo, Jesé
Real Betis starting lineup (4-4-2 formation): Adán; Piccini, Vargas, Bruno, Pezzella; N'Diaye, Cejudo, Portillo, Torres; Molina, Castro
