Real Betis vs Real Madrid preview - Mel relishing Real test

Posted Saturday, March 10, 2012 by PA

Real Betis coach Pepe Mel is determined to find a weak spot in the Real Madrid line-up as the Seville club prepare to face the runaway Primera Division leaders.

Jose Mourinho's men have won 10 successive league matches, including a 5-0 rout of Espanyol last time out, to open up a 10-point lead over Barcelona at the top of the table.

It is a tough ask for 12th-placed Betis to try and halt that run at the Estadio Benito Villamarin, with Madrid's away record of 10 victories in 12 matches the best in the competition by some margin.

But Mel is ready for the challenge and insists his players need no extra motivation for the fixture.

"It's easy to manage a squad when you're playing against Madrid," he said in an interview with AS.

"I simply have to succeed in what I propose we do on the football pitch.

"I think it was Hannibal who said: `If there is a path between the Alps, I will find it.' If there is a way to beat Madrid, I will find it."

Betis suffered a 3-1 loss to Levante in their last match, yet Mel insists that result has no bearing when Madrid are your next opponents.

"Only two teams have managed to beat Madrid this year, so any result becomes irrelevant," he said.

"We always like to win, but this fixture is an exception and to get anything would be a tremendous achievement.

"We are clearly a little worried about facing Madrid but we have studied them and will work on that. We must adapt to their pace."

Mel is also concerned his team will come up against the full might of Cristiano Ronaldo, with the Betis coach believing the Portuguese forward may step up a gear in response to Lionel Messi's midweek goalscoring exploits for Barcelona.

Messi earned plaudits from across the globe after becoming the first player to score five goals in a Champions League match in the win over Bayer Leverkusen.

"So far this year, when Leo has put in a great performance Cristiano always responds and vice versa," said Mel.

"Cristiano can destroy us with his speed and his hunger for titles. But he is not alone in that squad. Kaka, Ozil, Higuain, Khedira, Alonso...they have too many big players to expect us to win."

Mel will wait until Saturday before deciding whether Paulao can play against Madrid, with the defender recovering from a bruised leg.

Mourinho remains without Karim Benzema. The striker is back in training following a hamstring injury but this match comes too soon.

Angel Di Maria and Fabio Coentrao both remain sidelined with thigh injuries.