Soccer

Real Madrid vs. Real Betis 2017 live stream: Start time, TV channel, and how to watch online

Real Madrid need to stop dropping points and get back to dominating La Liga.

Sep 20, 2017, 3:12 PM UTC

Real Madrid v APOEL Nikosia - UEFA Champions League

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It’s been a strange start to the season in La Liga for Real Madrid, who have dropped four points through their first four matches after a pair of lackluster draws. In fact, they haven’t actually won a league match yet at the Santiago Bernabéu, something they will desperately hope to correct against Real Betis on Sunday.

Part of Real Madrid’s struggles has been due to being without Cristiano Ronaldo to open the season, but he’s back now and they need him to get up to full speed, fast. A minor run of injuries and another suspension to Marcelo has left their side somewhat below full strength all season, and their lack of a home win as a result of that has left them sitting in fifth place early on in the standings.

Real Betis are below them in the standings, though they have a pair of wins. Those wins have come against teams in the bottom four, however, with a combined total of four points between them. When Betis have played teams that have shown serious quality this season — Barcelona and Villarreal — they’ve lost heavily, by a combined score of 5-1 between the two matches. That doesn’t bode well for their chances against a Real Madrid team with a point to prove.

Real Madrid will be without a trio of players, with Marcelo suspended and both Karim Benzema and Mateo Kovacic injured. Marcelo takes away a major creative presence from the side, but the absence of Kovacic may be bigger, as the Croatian has been in tremendous form this season and a big part of Madrid’s early successes. Real Betis aren’t at full health either, with attacker Joel Campbell and defender Alin Tosca both sidelined for this match.