LIVE – Real Betis v Real Madrid: Commentary, updates, goals and stats for La Liga clash as Pitarch, Rudiger, Mendy, Brahim Diaz start

Real Madrid must win at Real Betis tonight to keep the pressure on Barcelona in the title race.

The midweek round of fixtures saw the Catalans maintain their nine-point lead at the summit, although neither side found it easy.

Barca edged Celta Vigo 1-0 – and lost star man Lamine Yamal for potentially the rest of the season due to a hamstring injury sustained in the act of scoring the winning penalty – while Madrid beat Alaves 2-1.

Alvaro Arbeloa’s men will have to play better against Betis if they are to keep up their challenge. Manuel Pellegrini’s side won 3-2 at Girona on Tuesday night and need another victory if they are to stand any chance of catching fourth-placed Atletico Madrid and secure a Champions League spot.

Where to watch Real Betis v Real Madrid: TV and online streams

Kick-off on Friday is at 20:00 BST (15:00 ET / 12:00 PT), with live coverage in the UK on Premier Sports 2 and streaming available on a vast range of devices via the Premier Sports app.

A Premier Sports subscription costs £120 a year, £11.99 per month on a 12-month contract or £16.99 per month with 30 days’ cancellation notice required.

Real Betis v Real Madrid stats

• Real Betis are unbeaten in their last three home matches against Madrid, ending a run of two draws by prevailing 2-1 last season through Isco’s winner
• They have conceded no more than once in five of their last six visits from Madrid, last letting in more at home in the fixture in a 3-2 defeat in September 2020
• No team in this season’s Liga have drawn more games than Betis (13, one ahead of Rayo Vallecano)
• Pellegrini’s team have led and conceded equalisers in each of their last three games in all competitions
• Morocco winger Abde Ezzalzouli has scored once in each of those matches
• That defeat to Betis in 2024/25 is Madrid’s only loss in the last 11 editions of the fixture since March 2020 (W5 D5)
• Madrid have conceded the fewest away goals in this season’s Liga (16 in 15 matches, one fewer than Celta Vigo)
• They have conceded after the 88th minute in three of their last five matches, including three goals after the 90th minute
• Kylian Mbappe is the top scorer in the top flight (24), immediately ahead of Mallorca’s Vedat Muriqi (21)
• Only Mbappe (28), Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal (27) and Muriqi (22) have more direct goal involvements in this season’s division than Madrid’s Vinicius Junior (17)