Liga Preview: Betis-Real Madrid
How funny Spanish football can be: the abandoned match between Real Madrid and Betis will resume on Tuesday night with only 48 minutes on the clock. The game was suspended twice three weeks ago before being actually abandoned after the Ruiz De Lopera floodlight system suffered a series of failures.
How funny Spanish football can be: the abandoned match between Real Madrid and Betis will resume on Tuesday night with only 48 minutes on the clock. The game was suspended twice three weeks ago before being actually abandoned after the Ruiz De Lopera floodlight system suffered a series of failures.
It means Betis will keep their 1-0 lead earned thanks to a Capi goal on September 15. Ironically enough teams won't have the same lineups to restart the match after suspensions and injuries hit both sides.
However Vicente Del Bosque won't be able to argue he did not have time to come up with a plan to bridge the existing gap. Real looked so strong against Alaves they simply can't afford to lose their first match of the season, which has been hanging in the air for weeks now like a spade of Damocles.
And Real are in danger of losing the match as Betis gave signs of solidity many times especially in last week's crushing of Barcelona. The Andalucians had a great start and showed many times they were no "troncos".
The Catalans were taken to pieces by classy Betis in a match which featured a radiant Joaquin, who has undoubtedly put behind his World Cup hangover. The young Spain winger is one to watch, especially by visiting Real who might try to lure him to Madrid next year.
LATEST TEAM NEWS
Bad news flocked in on Monday for Vicente Del Bosque: Raul and Luis Figo will not make it, even if the only confirmed absence so far is the Portuguese winger's. Steve McManaman is set to jump in in attacking midfield. On the other hand Real are poised to get a boost from Ronaldo's slow build-up. He should come on as a sub but will definitely not start the game.
LATEST FORM GUIDE
Betis: WWDWLD
The Andalucian derby with Sevilla ended in disarray as fans ran riot over the police and Betis goalie Toni Prats. Their best performance so far was against Barcelona, whom they managed to beat 3-0.
Real Madrid: WWWDDW
The Merengues have romped to wins over San Sebastian (8-1), Roma (3-0), Osasuna (4-1) and Genk (6-0). In the last two games, however, the tide has turned slightly and they have been held to draws by Valladolid and AEK.