Real Betis v Real Madrid preview: Toni Kroos facing spell on sidelines
Sunday 18 February 2018 18:55, UK
Real Madrid will look to put their indifferent domestic form behind them when they travel to Real Betis on Sunday, live on Sky Sports Football from 7.40pm.
Zinedine Zidane's men sit fourth in La Liga after thrashing Real Sociedad 5-2 last weekend.
Madrid have found the Estadio Benito Villamarin a happy hunting ground in recent years, winning 5-0 and 6-1 either side of a 1-1 draw in their last three visits, and they have only lost three times to Betis in 30 meetings.
However, one of those defeats came at the Bernabeu in September when Antonio Sanabria's stoppage-time strike gave Betis a shock 1-0 win.
Zidane admits being Real Madrid coach is exhausting as he faced further questions about his future with the club.
He has won eight trophies in two years since taking over at Madrid, including back-to-back Champions League and La Liga titles, but has found himself under increasing pressure following a poor run of results.
Wednesday's 3-1 European comeback win over Paris Saint-Germain earned the Frenchman a bit of breathing space, but he was quizzed once more about his long-term plans ahead of Sunday's trip to Betis.
Asked if he had decided what he will do at the end of the season, Zidane said in quotes reported by the Spanish media: "For me the most important thing is what I'm doing now, the day to day. I'm not looking further than that.
"I want to get to the end of the season. I'm only bothered about what's at stake and I don't want to talk about anything else."
Team news
Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos is facing a spell on the sidelines after spraining knee ligaments.
Kroos played the full 90 minutes of Wednesday's Champions League last-16 win over Paris Saint-Germain but is now set to miss a number of La Liga matches.
A club statement read: "Following tests carried out on Toni Kroos by the Sanitas Real Madrid Medical Services, he has been diagnosed with a sprain to the exterior lateral ligament in the left knee. His recovery will continue to be assessed."
Live La Liga Football
The midfielder could be potentially ruled out of La Liga matches against Real Betis, Leganes, Alaves and Espanyol.
However, he could be fit in time for the second leg against PSG on March 6, where Zidane's holders will defend a 3-1 lead.
