by ROB GOLDBERG
Real Madrid will try to keep pace with the top clubs in La Liga with a favorable matchup against Real Betis.
The squad starts the second half of the season three points behind both Atletico Madrid and Barcelona. In all likelihood, neither club is going to lose too many matches for the rest of the year, so Real have to remain as perfect as possible.
This should not be too tough of a task against Real Betis, a team that only has two league wins all season. The club has not earned a victory in La Liga since September, and they have lost their last two matches at home.
Still, there is enough talent on the roster to believe they can pull off an upset with the right motivation. The crowd should be full, and the players should respond to give Real Madrid all they can handle in this competitive battle.
Real Madrid have played extremely well as of late, winning six matches in a row going unbeaten since an Oct. 26 loss to Barcelona. It is only natural for players to relax when they see the last-place team on the schedule.
However, manager Carlo Ancelotti recognizes this issue and is staying ahead of it. According to BBC Sport, he told the media, "Some games can throw a curveball and it is important to maintain focus. I don't need to tell my players what they are up against in Betis. They are clever and know what to expect."
Of course, talking about it and actually believing it are different things. The players cannot simply assume they will win; they have to remain aggressive on the pitch to get as many goals as possible.
Otherwise, they will drop points and lose ground on the two clubs they are chasing.
With this in mind, you can expect a full lineup of first-team members ready to dominate on Saturday.
Source:- http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1927145-real-betis-vs-real-madrid-date-time-live-stream-tv-info-and-preview
Real Madrid will try to keep pace with the top clubs in La Liga with a favorable matchup against Real Betis.
The squad starts the second half of the season three points behind both Atletico Madrid and Barcelona. In all likelihood, neither club is going to lose too many matches for the rest of the year, so Real have to remain as perfect as possible.
This should not be too tough of a task against Real Betis, a team that only has two league wins all season. The club has not earned a victory in La Liga since September, and they have lost their last two matches at home.
Still, there is enough talent on the roster to believe they can pull off an upset with the right motivation. The crowd should be full, and the players should respond to give Real Madrid all they can handle in this competitive battle.
Real Madrid have played extremely well as of late, winning six matches in a row going unbeaten since an Oct. 26 loss to Barcelona. It is only natural for players to relax when they see the last-place team on the schedule.
However, manager Carlo Ancelotti recognizes this issue and is staying ahead of it. According to BBC Sport, he told the media, "Some games can throw a curveball and it is important to maintain focus. I don't need to tell my players what they are up against in Betis. They are clever and know what to expect."
Of course, talking about it and actually believing it are different things. The players cannot simply assume they will win; they have to remain aggressive on the pitch to get as many goals as possible.
Otherwise, they will drop points and lose ground on the two clubs they are chasing.
With this in mind, you can expect a full lineup of first-team members ready to dominate on Saturday.
Source:- http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1927145-real-betis-vs-real-madrid-date-time-live-stream-tv-info-and-preview
