Benzema hits a desperate strike from 18 yards out but he gets his angles all wrong, sending the shot nowhere near the target.
90' +1
The fourth official indicates five minutes will be added to the end of the match for stoppages.
89'
Vinicius, trying to get the ball for a corner-kick, gets into a bit of a shoving match with Bravo. The goalkeeper was doing his best to prevent the winger from getting play restarted, which results in a bit of a scrum. No cards are produced but the referee has a word with both captains and the two players involved.
87'
Abner enters the game and replaces Juan Miranda.
Joaquín enters the game and replaces Aitor Ruibal.
Á. Rodríguez enters the game and replaces T. Kroos.
41-years young, Joaquin comes on for an appearance against Real Madrid. Ruibal's match comes to an end.
Alvaro Rodriguez gets three minutes to change the game, taking Kroos' place.
A change at left-back for Betis sees Abner replace Miranda.
84'
Vinícius Júnior gets yellow.
Vinicius is the latest player to enter the referee’s notebook with a yellow card.
82'
Militao goes down holding his foot after beating Jose to Miranda’s throw-in. The battling centre-back looks to be okay to continue, though he’s moving gingerly.
80'
A. Guardado enters the game and replaces William Carvalho.
A change in midfield for Betis sees the booked Carvalho taken off for Guardado.
79'
Benzema and Vinicius work the ball back and forth in a tight area inside the penalty area, before the striker goes down under pressure from Carvalho. The Real Madrid players all look to the referee, who makes his mind up quickly and allows play to continue.
77'
Benzema and Kroos work a short-corner routine but the eventual delivery into the 18-yard box is beaten away by Luiz as Real Madrid continue to search for a way to unlock the assured Betis defence.
Minute
Description
71'
Willian José enters the game and replaces Borja Iglesias.
Luiz Henrique enters the game and replaces Ayoze Pérez.
A change behind the forward sees Henrique replace Perez.
Pellegrini withdraws his booked striker, with Jose instructed to lead the line.
70'
A careless pass from Guido Rodriguez allows Vinicius to steal possession of the ball but his cross to the far post gives Rodrygo no chance as it rolls directly behind for a goal-kick.
68'
Carvajal shapes a lovely cross towards the penalty area looking for the foot of Vinicius but Felipe’s well-timed slide gets him to the ball first to break up the connection.
66'
Miranda’s latest delivery from a corner is not especially promising, with Carvajal able to clear it away with time and space at the near post.
64'
Dani Ceballos enters the game and replaces A. Tchouaméni.
Ancelotti makes a change in midfield, with Tchouameni coming off for Ceballos.
63'
Nacho enters the game and replaces E. Camavinga.
Camavinga makes way with just under 30 minutes to go. Nacho takes his place.
Kroos’ cross into the penalty area from the set-piece is a dangerous one, with Pezzella meeting the delivery only to push it straight up in the air. Rudiger and Felipe battle for it but it’s Bravo who wins out in the end, getting a clearing punch to the ball.
62'
Pezzella stretches out a leg and catches the shins of Vinicius, who wins his side a free-kick on the left wing in a good position for a cross.
59'
Éder Militão gets yellow.
Rodrygo gets yellow.
Dani Carvajal enters the game and replaces Lucas Vázquez.
Rodrygo is shown a yellow card for using his elbow in a duel with Sabaly.
Carvajal comes in for Vazquez as Real Madrid make a change at right-back.
The referee uses this opportunity to go back and show Militao a yellow card for his two-handed pull on the shirt of Iglesias during an aerial duel.
56'
Miranda’s outswinging corner finds the head of Pezzella, who can only direct his headed effort wide of the post.
54'
Valverde takes a powerful strike from 30 yards out that stings the palms of Bravo, who miscues his initial attempt to catch the ball. It almost goes behind for a corner but the goalkeeper does just enough to keep it in play and under his control.
51'
Borja Iglesias gets yellow.
Y. Sabaly gets yellow.
Sabaly cynically holds Vinicius back with two arms to prevent an interchange with Benzema. It’s a yellow card for the full-back, who has been busy all evening.
Iglesias is shown a yellow card 30 seconds after his team-mate for what the referee deems to be a dangerous and unnecessary push on Militao during a tussle for the loose ball.
48'
Rodrygo’s cross from the byline in search of Benzema finds the head of Pezzella, who sends it clear of his penalty area.
46'
Real Betis get the match restarted from the kick-off!
45' +3
HALF-TIME: REAL BETIS 0-0 REAL MADRID.
45' +2
William Carvalho gets yellow.
Carvalho is overzealous in his appeals to the referee, putting his hands on the match official. It's a yellow card for the Betis midfielder just before the interval.
45'
The fourth offiicial indicates one minute will be added to the end of the half for stoppages.
43'
Rodrygo drives towards goal and shapes his body to curl a shot towards the far post but Felipe throws himself in front of the strike, blocking it before Bravo could be called into action.
41'
Miranda drives the free-kick towards the six-yard box for Pezzella but Rudiger takes up a good position to get his head to it first.
39'
Iglesias looks to keep possession of the ball with Rudiger at his back but Tchouameni comes across and sticks his leg in too - taking the striker down. It’s a free-kick for Betis 30 yards from goal on the right flank.
37'
Vinicius’ body feint gets the better of Sabaly, who loses his footing trying to maintain his position against the winger. The Brazil international then looks to get on the end of Camavinga’s pass and drive into the penalty area but a forceful sliding challenge from Pezzella stops his opponent and wins a goal-kick for his side.
35'
Camavinga gets into the penalty area and squares a bouncing pass for Vinicius, who leans back as he shoots - scooping the ball up and over Bravo’s target.
34'
Rodrygo evades Guido Rodriguez’s somewhat wreckless sliding challenge to find Vinicius on the left wing but Carvalho comes back to help Sabaly and the pair win possession back near their own goal.
30'
Courtois uses a long throw to release Vinicius down the left wing. The Brazil international drops his shoulder to get past Sabaly but his low delivery into the penalty area is immediately whacked away by Pezzella.
29'
Carvalho gets forward and looks to play a pass in the channel for Iglesias but the move is read perfectly by Rudiger, who intercepts it.
27'
Ruibal is again allowed to get free down the right wing but Courtois outjumps Iglesias in a battle for the aerial ball, ending the Betis attack.
25'
E. Camavinga gets yellow.
The first yellow card of the match is shown to Camavinga, for sticking out a leg and catching Rodri cynically.
23'
With the free-kick right on the byline, Kroos opts to play a low pass back - looking to set up Benzema. The striker wastes no time hitting his first-time shot but it’s blocked by the mass of bodies in the penalty area.
22'
Vinicius shows his impressive dribbling skills, skipping past Ruibal’s slide and keeping the ball in play before driving to the byline, engaging Pezzella and winning a free-kick
21'
Betis execute a perfect passing triangle on the left, with Sabaly and Ruibal connecting to play Rodri into space. All the forward has to do is switch play for a completely open Perez, but he gets his power and accuracy wrong - giving it right to Vazquez.
19'
A poor pass inward from Vinicius immediately puts Betis on the attack but Miranda’s cross from the left is easily dealt with by Militao.
17'
Tchouameni floats an ambitious cross over the top of the defence from a central position for Benzema but Bravo is off his line quickly to get to the ball first.
15'
Real Madrid are being very patient in the aftermath of the disallowed goal, with the midfield knocking it around coolly looking for a way through the Betis block. Ancelotti’s side are moving it from right to left and back again in methodical fashion, but their opponents are not showing signs of weakness.
11'
Rodrygo plays a lovely interchange with Benzema on the edge of the 18-yard box, forcing Pezzella into a sliding challenge. It’s a free-kick for Real Madrid, in a dangerous position.
8'
Ruibal’s delivery from the right is a good one to pick out Iglesias, but he’s unable to turn his defender with the ball at his feet as Courtois steps up to claim it.
6'
Valverde looks to take up a position on the right wing and play a low cross into the penalty area but it’s well behind the run of Benzema, allowing Carvalho to boot the ball down the pitch and end the attack.
4'
Miranda’s corner from the left is a poor effort, with both Vazquez and Valverde in the area to clear it away.
3'
Valverde looks to make a run from deep to get on the end of Vazquez’s pass down the flank but the Uruguay international is too physical with Miranda, with the referee blowing his whistle for a free-kick just as the Real Madrid player had entered the penalty area.
1'
Real Madrid get the match underway from the kick-off!
Hello and welcome to our LIVE commentary of the LaLiga fixture between Real Betis and Real Madrid!
Three victories in a row for Real Betis has them back in contention for the Champions League places, just four points back of Real Sociedad for the final spot. With eight goals in that time, Manuel Pellegrini’s side are in a rich vein of attacking form, though they’ll have to make do without key figure Nabil Fekir; who recently sustained an ACL injury that will keep him out of action for a considerable length of time.
REAL MADRID SUBS: Luis Lopez, Lucas Canizares, Dani Carvajal, Jesus Vallejo, Nacho, Eden Hazard, Dani Ceballos, Marco Asensio, Mariano Diaz, Alvaro Rodriguez.
REAL MADRID XI (4-3-3): Thibaut Courtois; Eduardo Camavinga, Antonio Rudiger, Eder Militao, Lucas Vazquez; Toni Kroos, Aurelien Tchouameni, Federico Valverde; Vinicius Junior, Karim Benzema, Rodrygo.
REAL BETIS SUBS: Rui Silva, Dani Martin, Martin Montoya, Edgar Gonzalez, Victor Ruiz, Abner, Paul Akoukou, Andres Guardado, Juanmi, Luiz Henrique, Willian Jose, Joaquin.
With 15 minutes to go before kick-off, let’s take a look at how the two sides are lining up - starting with our hosts!
Real Madrid have been rather unimpressive in their last two showings, earning a draw with Atletico in LaLiga before losing the first leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final tie with Barcelona on Thursday. Now 10 points back of the pace-setting Blaugrana at the top of the table, Carlo Ancelotti will need to oversee a third league win in five matches to keep within touching distance of their rivals.
Real Betis have shown determination when not in possession, tracking back to double up on opposing wingers and using Iglesias to help occupy defenders. The strategy has worked with the hosts keeping a clean sheet after 45 minutes, but there is a distinct lack of outball after Pellegrini’s side win possession. Perhaps the pace of Abner and Henrique could help stretch the match as legs tire, while Real Madrid will look to counter with the experience of Nacho or Carvajal. Alvaro Rodriguez could also come on for a cameo, after his all-important goal against Atletico Madrid last league game.
REAL BETIS XI (4-2-3-1): Claudio Bravo; Youssouf Sabaly, German Pezzella, Luiz Felipe, Juan Miranda; Guido Rodriguez, William Carvalho; Rodri, Ayoze Perez, Aitor Ruibal; Borja Iglesias.
That concludes our commentary of the LaLiga fixture between Real Betis and Real Madrid! We hope you’ve enjoyed it!
Real Betis take on Manchester United in the Europa League on Thursday, ahead of a trip to Villarreal next Sunday in LaLiga. Real Madrid have six days off before a league meeting with Espanyol on Saturday.
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