Real Madrid

Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois tipped an early shot from Real Betis forward Ayoze Perez over the bar before striker Karim Benzema had a goal for Real Madrid ...

Then, Real Madrid host Liverpool in the second leg of the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday, March 15. Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti on the performance: "It was a difficult game, above all because we could have been more efficient in attack, we had chances, we could have done better with them. Sometimes we didn't choose the best solution, [Eder] Militao played a fantastic game in defence with Rudiger, but we lacked that, choosing the best solution, dribbling when you shouldn't, trying a one-two, passing instead of shooting. That's the reality, in these games we've only scored from a set piece, it's obvious what's lacking, we have to be more effective. The best of Madrid's attack was Rodrygo, enjoying the rare opportunity to play in his favoured role -- inside, behind a centre-forward, with freedom to roam, and with Fede Valverde covering the right-hand side. We have the quality, we have to do better, more efficient, more clinical. It's a role that gets the best out of his intelligent movement, close control and ability to take players on. Vinicius Junior looked dangerous at times, but distracted at others, getting caught up in disputes with Betis players and the referee, while late substitute Alvaro barely had any time to make an impact. As Madrid chased a winner, however, the limitations of their squad were on display. Yes, he was a little unlucky that his free kick brushed Rudiger's arm on its way into the net, but otherwise, this was a disappointingly quiet night for the 35-year-old. They were frustrated by some poor finishing, and a solid display by veteran Claudio Bravo in the Betis goal. Real Betis are a good team and the Estadio Benito Villamarin is an intimidating arena, but Madrid were the better side, dominating possession, creating more chances and ending the game with an xG, or expected goals, of 1.21 to Betis' 0.41.

Real Madrid stumbled to a damaging 0-0 draw at Real Betis on Sunday, leaving them nine points behind leaders Barcelona in the Liga title race.

The Brazilian, as has become customary in La Liga, was engaged in a running battle with the Betis defence. Carlo Ancelotti set up in a 4-4-2 with Vinicius and Fede Valverde on the wings, with Rodrygo partnering Benzema up front. Seville (Spain) (AFP) – Real Madrid stumbled to a damaging 0-0 draw at Real Betis on Sunday, leaving them nine points behind leaders Barcelona in the Liga title race.

Vinicius Junior was embroiled in a spat with Real Betis goalkeeper Claudio Bravo and was frustrated during the goalless draw (Photo: Fermin Rodriguez/Quality ...

Ancelotti pointed out the need for new signings during that transfer window after Real won La Liga and the [Champions League](https://theathletic.com/football/champions-league/), but the board disagreed. That was a header from [youth player Alvaro Rodriguez,](https://theathletic.com/4233284/2023/02/21/real-madrid-alvaro-rodriguez/) which rescued a [1-1 draw with Atletico Madrid.](https://theathletic.com/4252472/2023/02/26/real-madrid-atletico-de-madrid-la-liga/) They were then defeated [ 1-0 at home to Barca](https://theathletic.com/4271231/2023/03/03/real-madrid-barcelona-clasico-ugly/) in the [Copa del Rey](https://theathletic.com/copa-del-rey/) semi-final first leg. The Brazil winger was furious with the officials and had to be pulled away by [Dani Ceballos](https://theathletic.com/football/player/dani-ceballos-GD8WHXteo7Ll3u2q/) despite the threat of a red card. When Rodriguez was finally sent on, Madrid did not take advantage of his height and stopped crossing into the box. Ancelotti did bring on Rodriguez — but only with three minutes left of normal time when the Uruguayan striker had been warming up since the 66th minute. “There is a long way to go and a lot of things are going to happen,” one voice high up in the Madrid dressing room said. That figure has dropped to 22 at the same stage of this campaign. [behind Barcelona at the top of La Liga](https://theathletic.com/4278328/2023/03/06/barcelona-xavi-emulates-pep-guardiola-but-his-side-have-a-long-way-to-go/). They have managed five wins since the tournament, with three draws and two defeats. “In a game like this, we must score a goal.” Ceballos urged his team-mate to calm down, but he was embroiled in an argument with Betis goalkeeper “This upsets (us) a lot.”

Arch rivals Barcelona are top on 62 points, 9 clear of second-placed Real who have now had consecutive draws. Read more at straitstimes.com.

“I urge the fans to keep trusting in us. The tension and intensity grew in the second half, with Real going all out to get a win and Betis having chances of their own to shock the La Liga and Champions League holders. “We made enough to deserve something more.

Real Madrid lacked quality in front of goal against Real Betis, and spluttered to a frustrating 0-0 draw to fall further behind Barcelona in La Liga.

Madrid, meanwhile, had their moments but never found a crucial goal, and now face a nine-point deficit to leaders Barca in La Liga with 14 games to play. They forced Thibaut Courtois into a series of top saves throughout the contest to prove their pedigree as genuine top-four contenders. Betis stayed in it, though, and looked the more likely side to score for long periods.

Since thrashing Liverpool 5-2 in the first leg of their Champions League 16 tie, Real has scored only once in their following three matches in all ...

Asked if Real is out of the title race, Ancelotti said: “No, no. We need to be more clinical and deliver more.” “The players are also disappointed because we’ve got the quality to score and we’ve always done it.

The Scottish player has hit the ground running with Real Madrid as she reflects on her new life in the Spanish capital.

the feeling of: “I don’t understand them and they don’t understand me”. Of course, the worst thing, especially at the beginning, is the language: “That is definitely the biggest challenge”. Weir loves life in the capital of Spain: “I live here with my boyfriend and we go out in the evenings, walking around Madrid. The 27-year-old also reflected on the intensity with which football is played in Spain, especially in games involving the big matches: “Beating Atlético in my first derby was really great and I really enjoyed El Clasico, I’ve already played in two already and managed to score once. We saw it the last time we played them in the Super Cup and I’m here to help us compete in the league,” she said. She added that under coach Toril she has added freedom from that at Manchester City: “Here I feel that I can play with a lot of freedom in our system.

“The Spanish lifestyle is a good thing for me,” she says to The Athletic while on a camp with her national team, Scotland, for the Pinatar Cup, a four-team ...

“I was at the final last summer, and as a female player, it was really cool to see Wembley full of people supporting England in a Euros final. “I think it’s being given freedom to play, a lot of trust from the manager — he trusts me and what I see in games — and that gives me the confidence and the freedom to go and express myself and really impact games. And when I visited the club, a certain feeling that I got from Madrid and no one else was probably why I decided to go to them.” And that’s what happens when you invest in women, and in a sport as well.” Growing up in a time when women’s football wasn’t as accessible as it is now, the Real Madrid and France legend was one of her idols. Weir brought her partner and Skye, her sausage dog, when she made the switch to Spain. But the way Madrid play does, she admits, afford her more of a free role in comparison to the “more structured” approach taken by Scotland. We have a clear way of how we want to play and it’s just sticking with that, making the most of the time together and training hard. We want to be at a major tournament and every day we’re here we’re working hard to help in that process.” In a statement released by players at the time, Weir said: “For so many years we’ve felt an afterthought, and whilst we have seen growth, it’s come as a result of driving our own change. “Obviously, when you’ve got that kind of momentum, you want to keep going,” Weir says, “but I think this camp has actually come at a good time. “The Spanish lifestyle is a good thing for me,” she says to The Athletic while on a camp with her national team, Scotland, for the Pinatar Cup, a four-team invitational tournament held in Spain last month.