Tough trip for Madrid as Betis look to forget derby humiliation

Real Madrid have the chance to temporarily close the gap at the top of the BBVA Primera Liga to just five points on FC Barcelona if they are able to win away to Real Betis on Saturday night. With league leaders Barca playing away to Levante on Sunday and Atletico Madrid at home to Sevilla, Jose Mouirnho's side can put a more positive spin on the league positions, at least for 24 hours, if they can take all three points from the Benito Villamarin Stadium. Real Madrid go into the game on the back of five straight wins in the Primera Liga and Jose Mourinho's side will also have their confidence high after assuring their place in the last 16 of the Champions league with a 1-1 draw away to Manchester City on Wednesday night. The fact that Madrid have only had two days to prepare for what could be a difficult game in Seville could be important against a rival that has had all week to look ahead to the match. However, it has not been an easy week for Betis after they suffered a humiliating 5-1 thrashing at the hands of local rivals, Sevilla on Sunday night in a game where Betis were slow out of the blocks, conceded a goal after just 13 seconds and were 4-0 down at halftime. That defeat, which was all the more painful because it was at that hands of their neighbors, saw a section of the most radical Betis supporters boo the players in a subsequent training session, and Betis have to produce the goods against Madrid in order to try and forget the humiliation. Betis are without midfielder Ruben Suarez who was sent off against Sevilla, while Real Madrid are still without Gonzalo Higuain and Marcelo through injury and Michael Essien is still doubtful with a muscle problem. Jose Mourinho will make few changes to his side that drew in Manchester with Xabi Alonso and Sami Khedria playing in central midfield behind an attack consisting of Cristiano Ronaldo, Angel de Maria and Karim Benzema, who has scored in his last two matches. The one doubt is whether Mesut Ozil or Luka Modric will play in the attacking midfield role with Ozil perhaps favorite after a slightly flat show by Modric in Manchester.