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Having avoided defeat in their previous nine encounters with Sunday's opponents, Los Blancos lost 2-1 to Real Betis in the most recent meeting between these two sides. If the Andalusians can achieve a similar scoreline to the one we saw in March, it'll be the first time they've inflicted back-to-back league defeats on Real Madrid since 1999.
However, the 36-time La Liga champions don't always have it all their own way in this fixture, particularly at the Bernabéu. Real Madrid have won just two of their last eight home fixtures against Real Betis (D4, L2), failing to score on six of these occasions. On the flip side, Betis have largely enjoyed travelling to the Spanish capital in recent months, picking up points in four of their last five away clashes with Madrid-based outfits.
Real Madrid v Real Betis Predictions
Thibaut Courtois 3+ saves: 5/6 (bet365)
Real Madrid to score in both halves: 1/1 (bet365)
Over 9.5 Corners: 8/13 (bet365)
Odds courtesy of bet365. Correct at the time of publication and subject to change.
Courtois prepares for a busy afternoon
Manuel Pellegrini's men have lost just one of their last 15 matches at opposing La Liga venues, while they remain one of just three teams in Europe's top five leagues to possess an unbeaten away record this season.
Having regularly demonstrated their attacking intent in both domestic and continental action of late, the visitors are certainly capable of creating chances against strong sides. Furthermore, star striker Cucho Hernández is currently enjoying a goalscoring purple patch, netting in nine of his last 18 appearances across all competitions.
With Real Madrid having dropped points in four of their previous seven league contests and Betis currently showing plenty of endeavour in the final third, don't be surprised if Thibaut Courtois is regularly called into action.
Prediction: Thibaut Courtois 3+ saves: 5/6 (bet365)
Explanation: This bet lands if Courtois makes three or more saves.
A positive omen for the hosts....
Despite recently struggling to overcome Real Betis on home soil, Real Madrid should head into this fixture in a confident mood. Incredibly, Los Blancos haven't lost their first home match of a new calendar year for over eight decades, registering 37 victories - 21 of which arrived as part of a live winning streak - and four draws since last being defeated in January 1944.
Furthermore, Xabi Alonso's men have been awarded more penalties than any other La Liga team this season, firing eight attempts from the spot so far. This statistic inevitably increases the likelihood of the hosts finding the net, so don't be surprised if the Madrid natives get to celebrate goals before and after the interval on Sunday afternoon.
Prediction: Real Madrid to score in both halves: 1/1 (bet365)
Explanation: This bet lands if Real Madrid score in both the first half and second half.
Taking risks in pursuit of victory
Having ground out eight draws from their last 15 away outings, Real Betis are no strangers to tight and tense affairs. These types of contests often produce attacking phases from both teams, potentially resulting in a high corner count. Furthermore, no manager in La Liga history has recorded more draws against Real Madrid than Manuel Pellegrini, so don't be surprised if we see another end-to-end encounter.
After an almost perfect start to the campaign, Real Madrid's defensive vulnerabilities has undermined their progress of late. With Betis often playing on the front foot away from home and an under-fire Xabi Alonso in desperate need of three valuable points, there could be plenty of spaces for attackers to exploit on Sunday afternoon. If a basketball-style match does materialise, the chances of a substantial number of corners being awarded is significantly increased.
Prediction: Over 9.5 Corners: 8/13 (bet365)
Explanation: This bet lands if 10 or more corners are taken during the match.
Real Madrid v Real Betis: Match Result odds
Odds correct at the time of publication and subject to change.
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Odds correct at the time of publication and subject to change.