Real Madrid are back in La Liga action following a massive 3-1 win over Paris Saint-Germain in their Champions League last-16 first-leg clash in midweek.
While they are firmly in control for a spot in the quarter-finals, the narrative domestically is a complete contrast with Los Blancos cut well adrift of leaders Barcelona in fourth.
Zinedine Zidane’s side travel to Real Betis on Sunday looking to exact revenge for the 1-0 defeat at the Bernabeu earlier this season and with that in mind, we look at the burning questions ahead of the trip to Estadio Benito Villamarin.
KOVACIC TO REPLACE KROOS CONTROL?
Mateo Kovacic
Friday’s news that Toni Kroos has been ruled out of action for at least two weeks with a knee injury has forced Zidane to also consider his options in midfield, where he made a big call during Wednesday’s Champions League win by replacing defensive-minded Casemiro and utilising a conventional 4-4-2 formation for the final stages.
The success of that approach could prompt Zidane into employing something similar on a regular basis, with Casemiro’s position as an unquestioned starter under threat for the first time in nearly two years.
Kroos’s injury could spare the Brazilian enforcer the axe for the time being, but another possibility is that under-utilised Croatian international Mateo Kovacic will be given more playing time alongside compatriot Luka Modric in the centre of the pitch.
The defensive attributes of Casemiro have been a central part of Zidane’s thinking over the last couple of seasons but he is undoubted a technically more limited player than Kovacic, who would be able to provide a lot more to the team going forward.
All told, it will be fascinating to discover whether the heroic final stages of Wednesday’s win over PSG will force Zidane into rethinking his strategy in the long-term, serving as a template for the team’s way forward in the future.
IS BENZEMA’S TIME UP?
Real Madrid’s French forward Karim Benzema
As far as many people are concerned, it’s no coincidence that Real Madrid’s second-half improvement during Wednesday night’s morale-boosting victory over PSG only came after Karim Benzema had been removed from the action.
The misfiring French striker, who has only scored 13 goals in all competitions over the last 13 months, has become the main scapegoat for his team’s travails and manager Zidane is facing serious pressure to drop his compatriot.
That’s even more the case considering the hugely impressive performance delivered from the bench by Marco Asensio, whose raiding down the left wing created the second and third goals against PSG for Cristiano Ronaldo and Marcelo.
There’s a strong feeling that Asensio – who has only started ten league games this season – is being held back by Zidane’s insistence upon selecting Benzema, with the presence of Isco and the return to fitness of Gareth Bale providing further options to support Ronaldo up front.
The versatility of Asensio, Isco and Bale, who can all play either in wide positions or through the middle, means that Zidane has plenty of possible permutations in his forward line. Whether Benzema should still be included within that group is debateable, and all eyes will be on the teamsheet when Zidane’s decision is announced.
CAN BETIS TIGHTEN UP AT THE BACK?
Real Betis’ Spanish coach Quique Setien
Sunday night’s hosts Real Betis were the team arguably responsible for setting in the rot at Madrid, earning a 1-0 victory at the Bernabeu in September which saw Zidane’s men fail to score in a game for the first time in 17 months and 73 games.
Betis are renowned as one of the best pure footballing sides in Spain and they certainly possess the attacking quality to make Los Blancos suffer again.
However, in their most recent outing against big-name opposition – last month’s visit of Barcelona – the Sevilla-based team competed well in the first half before wilting after the break and eventually suffering a 5-0 thrashing.
Defensive collapses of that nature are not particularly unusual for teams managed by Betis boss Quique Setien, who has always struggled to cajole consistency to match their undoubted quality on the ball.
With 45 goals conceded in 23 league games Betis have the worst defensive record outside the bottom three, and this season they have shipped six goals against Valencia, five against Eibar and four against Real Sociedad.
So there’s every chance that if they play well, Zidane’s men will find a clear path to the opposition’s goal. The bigger question is whether they can also keep them out at the other end.
