After defeating one of La Liga's toughest teams in Real Sociedad to take an advantage in the Copa del Rey semifinals, Real Madrid will travel to the raucous Benito Villamarin this Saturday for a date with another underrated titan of the Spanish top flight, Real Betis.
Let's take a closer look at three key one-on-one matchups that will decide this matchup between the second and seventh-placed teams in LaLiga.
3 key matchups that will decide Real Madrid vs. Real Betis
Luka Modric vs. Isco
Real Madrid will face an old friend this Saturday afternoon in Isco, who has surprisingly blossomed at Real Betis after Los Blancos jetted him out of the squad.
Isco hasn't been as present - or as transcendent - as he was last season due to injury, but in 10 appearances, the 32-year-old Andalusian has still contributed to 5 goals and been one of the best overall attacking-minded midfielders in all of La Liga.
On the other side of the coin, Luka Modric is rested after not starting in the Copa, and he was magnificent last weekend against Girona, scoring a beautiful goal from beyond the blue - the longest of his La Liga career.
Saturday's matchup will be all about control and flair in midfield, as Real Betis don't back down from a fight and have just as much to play for as title contenders Real Madrid with European places on the line. Whichever veteran midfielder is able to create more action on the ball could very well lead his team to victory.
Fran Garcia vs. Antony
Fran Garcia failed to inspire confidence at mid-week against Real Sociedad, and he's really treading water at the left-back position, making Real's reluctance to go harder after Alphonso Davies all the more surprising.
On Saturday, Fran will face a very tough opponent in Antony, who has been so resurgent in his loan move from Manchester United to Real Betis that he is arguably THE in-form player in LaLiga right now (along with Real Madrid's own Kylian Mbappe).
Antony deserves all the praise in the world. He looks like a totally different player outside of the pressure cooker that is Old Trafford. His touch is sprightly, his vision clear, his passing much more incisive, and his overall quality that much more palpable. Antony has fully made the right wing his own with 4 goal contributions in 4 games, averaging 2.3 key passes per match. Fran has been put on notice.
Kylian Mbappe vs. Marc Bartra
The Real Betis center-back duo of Diego Llorente and Marc Bartra is quietly one of the better ones in the Spanish top flight, as both have a proven pedigree outside of Spain, too. But the 34-year-old Bartra is the far more intriguing matchup to watch since his veteran guile against Kylian Mbappe's own high footballing IQ and technical execution could be a treat.
These 33-and-older La Liga center backs are so savvy with their positioning. They've seen it all at this level and have the mental sharpness and foresight to match whatever is thrown at them. Bartra, as Real Madrid fans know from the 2014 Copa del Rey, has been on the receiving end of some attacking savagery in his day, so he'll be on high alert against Mbappe.
Meanwhile, Mbappe has really come into his own over the last couple of months in Madrid, proving to be worth every penny of his salary as the clear star among the stars in the Spanish capital. Real Madrid's fortunes on Saturday could go as Mbappe does, and if he's able to get on the scoresheet and keep creating like the Karim Benzema disciple that he is, then Madrid should be able to back another vital three points in their deadlock title race with Barcelona.