adminMADRID. — Real Madrid will be looking to put a disappointing start to Rafael Benitez’s reign in charge behind them when Real Betis visit the Santiago Bernabeu today. Benitez’s men could only manage a 0-0 draw away to newly-promoted Sporting Gijon to start their league campaign last weekend, which already leaves them trailing Barcelona and Atletico Madrid by two points.
A good start was seen as key to Madrid’s bid to win just a second La Liga title in eight years with Barca and Atletico facing on paper a much harder start to the campaign. However, Real defender Nacho insists Los Blancos can’t let panic set in just one game into the season.
“We need to be calm. At Real Madrid every game is a final,” he told the club’s website. If we had won against Sporting, we would still need to beat Betis. “From remaining calm we can go out to win every game.”
Fixtures
Today: Real Sociedad v Sporting Gijon (6:30pm), Barcelona v Malaga (8:30pm), Celta Vigo v Rayo Vallecano (10pm), Real Madrid v Real Betis (10:30pm).
Tomorrow: Eibar v Athletic Bilbao (6:30pm), Sevilla v Atletico Madrid (8:30pm), Valencia v Deportivo la Coruna (8:30pm), Las Palmas v Levante (10:30pm), Getafe v Granada (10:30pm)— AFP
Online Reporter