Preview | Real Madrid faces an unexpected obligation

Madrid/Seville, Aug 31 (EFE).- As early as it is unexpected, Real Madrid must respond to the ‘obligation’ to win in order not to see the gap on Barcelona widened by four points. Carlo Ancelotti’s team faces a rival like Betis with good recent memories of the Santiago Bernabéu, against whom it must correct errors from its irregular start.

Real Madrid have only won one of their last seven games against Betis in the capital. Four goalless draws in the last five league visits by Betis have created a dynamic that Ancelotti’s team must break.

– The fact:

Betis have only conceded two goals in their last seven visits to Real Madrid.

The excitement that was sparked by the arrival of Kylian Mbappé and an even bigger project than last year in a year in which Real Madrid is fighting for seven titles, has been halted by an unexpected start. After winning the European Super Cup against Atalanta, the profile of the rivals in the first chapters of the defence of the league crown did not invite them to think about obtaining 4 out of 9 possible points.

Mallorca, Real Valladolid and Las Palmas. Two draws away from home in the islands and a win without good play against the team from Pucela, generate a concern that Real Madrid wants to banish forcefully against Betis. To do so, ‘Carletto’ assures that he knows the root of the problem and that it is not offensive. It does not lie in the, at the moment, ineffective connection between Vinícius and Mbappé. He points to balance, to the lack of unity of the block in the defensive phase, with gaps after the change of system (going from a 4-4-2 to a 4-3-3).

And the Madrid manager must find solutions on foot. Without time to train with three games a week and with his players acquiring better physical tone based on games, with most of his starters not completing a proper preseason. With the absences of David Alaba and Jesús Vallejo in the back line. Of Eduardo Camavinga and Jude Bellingham, who are sorely missed in a midfield that does not work in creating play.

Against Valladolid he gave way to Güler. Against Las Palmas to Modric. And it is the main doubt to be resolved, with Brahim with a chance of starting, delaying his position, of a starting eleven for which Dani Carvajal and Rodrygo Goes return after the rotation last Thursday. With the countdown to the goal-scoring debut of

Mbappé, who is struggling in LaLiga. He never took three games to score and has tried with 18 shots without success. The Santiago Bernabéu is eagerly awaiting the goal that will unleash the rest.

For its part, Betis, coached by Chilean Manuel Pellegrini, arrives at the Santiago Bernabéu with two points to its name after two draws and with the third matchday postponed against Getafe due to its Conference League qualifying tie against Ukrainian side Kryvbas, from which the coach has drawn positive conclusions and emerging names for his project.

However, the duel against Carlo Ancelotti’s men has, in principle, the names of the Frenchman Nabil Fekir, due to his move to Al-Jazira, in the United Arab Emirates; and the Brazilian striker Vitor Roque, who is making his first call-up after having arrived on loan from Barcelona and who could make his debut at the Santiago Bernabéu.

– The key:

Ancelotti’s hand in correcting the gaps in his team and the evolution of the connection between Vinícius and Mbappé.

Fekir’s absence is one of those that weighs heavily, as the Frenchman is the franchise player around whom, in the absence of Isco Alarcón, the creation of the three attacking midfielders that the Chilean usually plays revolved, while the arrival of Vitor Roque will help to alleviate the lack of goals that has weighed down the Verdiblancos in the first few games.

The match against Kryvbas also served to seal the transfer, and for players like the Brazilian Natan de Souza, a centre-back who arrived on loan from Italian club Napoli, and the Moroccan Ez Abde, who is already playing his best game after an irregular first season at Betis, to say ‘here we are’.

Natan will form the central pairing at the Bernabéu alongside Diego Llorente, who is increasingly irreplaceable for the ‘Ingeniero’, due to Marc Bartra’s physical problems that have left him out of the squad, while up front, the two central midfielders will come from the American Johnny Cardoso, the Portuguese William Carvalho and Marc Roca.

Ez Abde could be rewarded in Madrid and continue in the starting eleven in a line in which Rodri Sánchez would occupy Fekir’s natural position and which could be completed by players such as Pablo Fornals or Juanmi Jiménez, with the versatile Aitor Ruibal at the centre of the attack awaiting Vitor Roque’s debut.

For the match at the Santiago Bernabéu, Pellegrini has brought back Argentine Chimy Ávila for his forward line. He was absent from the European qualifying round due to physical discomfort and he is now an alternative, either for the line of three attacking midfielders or at the centre of the attack in competition with Ruibal and Vitor Roque.

. Probable lineups:

Real Madrid: Courtois; Carvajal, Militao, Rudiger, Mendy; Chouaméni, Fede Valverde, Brahim or Guler; Rodrygo, Vinicius and Mbappe.
Betis: Rui Silva; Sabaly, Natan, Llorente, Perraud; Johnny Cardoso, Marc Roca; Fornals, Rodri; Abde; and Aitor Ruibal.
Arbitrator: Alberola Rojas (school in Castilla-La Mancha)
WAS: Muñiz Ruiz (Galician school).
Estadio: Santiago Bernabeu.
Time: 21.30.