Real Madrid: 3 X-Factors To Watch Against Real Betis

Real Madrid will face Real Betis at the Benito Villamarin on Saturday night. Here are three X-Factors that could decide the match.

Although Madridistas will be disappointed that their team didn’t come away with the full three points on Matchday 2, Real Madrid did play well against Real Sociedad, all told. They were on the road against a good team, didn’t have a real preseason, and were without key players like Eden Hazard and Marco Asensio.

A 0-0 draw won’t satisfy the team, but there are positive signs heading into Saturday’s match against a formidable Real Betis side, which has already shown signs of a big bounce-back season under Manuel Pellegrini.

Here are three X-Factors to watch on Matchday 3 when Real Madrid faces Real Betis.

1. If Real Madrid has Eden Hazard healthy

Eden Hazard has returned to train for Real Madrid, but we’ll have to see if he makes his return this weekend. It is in Los Blancos’ best interests to play things safe with Hazard, noting his importance. Real never looked better than they did with a 100 percent healthy Hazard last Fall, as his star power gives Real’s attack the edge it needs. He takes so much focus off the other players and connects so well with Karim Benzema.

As much as Los Blancos need him back and as much as Hazard could swing the balance against Betis this time at the Benito Villamarin, Zinedine Zidane should err on the side of caution. Still, Hazard’s status for Saturday’s game will be a defining factor in this important early-season matchup for both teams.

2. Real Betis forward Cristian Tello

Former Barcelona and FC Porto man Cristian Tello has not started in either of Real Betis’ first two games of the 2020-2021 La Liga season, both wins. But he has appeared as a substitute in both matches, scoring a 94th-minute winner in the 1-0 opener against Deportivo Alaves.

And earlier this year in March, he scored an 82nd-minute winner to sink Real Madrid 2-1.

Tello is a player Los Blancos are undoubtedly familiar with, and he is the definition of an X-Factor off the bench for Los Verdiblancos. The 29-year-old Spanish international has the athleticism and eye for goal to change the game when he’s on the pitch, and Real Madrid won’t want to let their guard down if Manuel Pellegrini calls his number in the final 20 minutes.

3. Real Madrid CM Luka Modric

Real Madrid center midfielder Luka Modric was one of the team’s most impressive players down the stretch of the 2019-2020 season when Los Blancos sealed the title. Even back in the Fall when Los Blancos were tearing up La Liga and the Champions League, Modric was turning back the clock with machine-like performance after machine-like performance.

Modric is a legend who remains one of the highest-caliber midfielders in La Liga at the age of 35 in all facets of the game. Last week, he started as one of the two defensive midfielders with Toni Kroos in an aggressive formation.

And he was a star performer. Modric’s turns and calm passing helped transition attacks. He had three key passes and two fouls drawn, per WhoScored.com, doing everything he could with Martin Odegaard to make the right side of Real’s formation a hub of activity.

Modric is not guaranteed to start every week, but he could be in line for a big day against Betis if he starts.