Surprise joint-leaders at the top of La Liga, Real Betis, are likely to face their biggest test yet in this new domestic top flight season when they play host to last season’s title-winners, Real Madrid, when the two teams clash at the Estadio Benito Villamarín on Sunday.
Early back-to-back wins against Deportivo Alaves 1-0 away from home and a 2-0 home win against Real Valladolid have thrust Real Betis to the top of the La Liga ladder and level on points with fellow leaders, Granada.
The hosts, however, may well have to batten down the hatches when Real Madrid come to visit.
Real Betis ended last season with just one win from their final seven matches overall which came in the shape of a 3-0 home win over mid-table Osasuna.
Although, three defeats on the trot wasn’t the best way to end their campaign; losses to Real Madrid, Deportivo Alaves and Real Valladolid saw Betis finish in a disappointing 15th place.
After claiming the La Liga title by a relatively convincing five-point margin from their fierce rivals, Barcelona, at the end of last season’s successful La Liga campaign, it was a disappointing start to this new season for Zinedine Zidane’s side as they could only muster a point in a 0-0 draw away from home at Real Sociedad.
However, despite winning the La Liga title, the Spanish champions have a few points to prove as they hit the road again for this Sunday’s clash at Real Betis, not only following their 4-2 defeat on aggregate against Manchester City in the round of last 16 in the Champions League but also their 2-1 defeat to Real Betis on their last visit back in early March.
Ironically, that defeat at Real Betis back in March prompted an impressive 10-match winning streak from the visitors and helped Los Blancos to their richly deserved La Liga title which included four wins on the trot on their travels.
Victories at Real Sociedad, Espanyol, Athletic Bilbao and Granada all contributed to Real Madrid wrestling the La Liga title away from Barcelona’s grasp and Zidane will be hoping that his side can put last weekend’s disappointment behind them with all three points in this Sunday’s clash.