The Real Champs
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Three things to look for as Real Madrid take on Real Betis

By Alex McVey

MADRID, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 13: Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid celebrates scoring his sides first goal during the UEFA Champions League group H match between Real Madrid and APOEL Nikosia at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on September 13, 2017 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 13: Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid celebrates scoring his sides first goal during the UEFA Champions League group H match between Real Madrid and APOEL Nikosia at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on September 13, 2017 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images) /
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Real Madrid have a quick turnaround for their next La Liga fixture. They take on Real Betis on Wednesday at the Santiago Bernabéu in Madrid. Here are three things to watch for ahead of the midweek match.

MADRID, SPAIN – SEPTEMBER 13: Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid celebrates scoring his sides first goal during the UEFA Champions League group H match between Real Madrid and APOEL Nikosia at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on September 13, 2017 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN – SEPTEMBER 13: Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid celebrates scoring his sides first goal during the UEFA Champions League group H match between Real Madrid and APOEL Nikosia at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on September 13, 2017 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images) /

The Return of Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo has had a pretty slow start to the La Liga season. Four matches in, and he hasn’t scored or assisted a single goal.

Of course, it would have been impossible for him to have done either of those things, because Ronaldo hasn’t even been on the pitch.

Ronaldo has been serving a five-match ban for shoving a referee during his brief but eventful stint in the first leg of the Spanish Super Cup. The second leg plus the first four La Liga matches have now passed, and Ronaldo is ready to get back to La Liga action.

He was integral to Real Madrid’s win against APOEL, grabbing a brace in the proceedings. He’ll be hungry to try to continue that form on into the league, where madrid are currently four points off the pace of league leaders Barcelona. In Real Madrid’s consecutive draws to Levante and Valencia, the goals were simply not falling, as Real Madrid severely underperformed their expected goals. Bale and Benzema were both wasteful in those matches, something that Ronaldo rarely is.

Even La Liga itself seems to be missing the influence of The Dark Invader. The goals scored across the league at this point in the season are down 20%.

Could Ronaldo’s absence explain why the goals simply don’t seem to be falling in La Liga? Perhaps.

A well-rested Cristiano Ronaldo is a dangerous, dangerous man. Real Betis will have to contend with a Ronaldo who is ready to get back to action and show the world why he’s still Real Madrid’s #1 Star.

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