The three-way fight for the La Liga crown looks set to go right to the wire so Real Madrid can ill afford a slip in this tricky game away to Real Betis.
Goal difference is all that's keeping Barcelona above the champions at the summit, with Atletico Madrid also just one point adrift in one of the most open title races for years.
The Madrid clubs have also been put on a collision course in the Champions League last 16 so the next few weeks will have a huge bearing on how Real's season pans out.
With the first leg of that European blockbuster looming in midweek, this trip to Seville is a potential banana skin for Carlo Ancelotti's men.
Real Betis are having a decent season and find themselves sitting seventh, behind Rayo Vallecano only on goal difference.
They've won their last two in La Liga and thrashed Real Sociedad 3-0 in their last home game so the Spanish champions will need to be on form to collect three precious points.
How the bookies view it: Crown won't slip for champions
BoyleSports are backing Real Madrid to pick up a big win in the title race as they make the champions 4/6 favourites. Real Betis are 14/5 outsiders and the draw pays the same.
Recent head to head: Betis can draw some comfort
Real Madrid won 2-0 when these sides faced off at the Bernabeu earlier this season and that made it nine games unbeaten against Real Betis. But four of those games have ended level, including stalemates in the last two held at the Benito Villamarin Stadium.
Players to watch: Hot Rod revved up
Ancelotti made a few changes for the midweek Copa Del Rey semi-final with Real Sociedad but I'd imagine he'll restore most of his big hitters for this one. Rodrygo got a breather in the cup so he will be fresh and the Brazilian is 7/4 at BoyleSports for anytime scorer.
Former Bernabeu star Isco will be out to haunt his former club and heads into this game on a high after a match-winning double against Getafe. The playmaker is 10/3 at BoyleSports to follow that up with another goal here and 7/4 at Bet365 to either score or assist.
Probable line-ups
It looked like on-loan Manchester United winger Antony would miss out for Betis but they have successfully appealed his red card against Getafe. Fellow former Premier League stars Giovanni Lo Celso, Pablo Fornals and Hector Bellerin are set to miss out with injury though along with Ez Abde, Marc Roca, Angel Ortiz and William Carvalho.
Jude Bellingham is still suspended for Real Madrid while Kylian Mbappe and Federico Valverde are fitness doubts after missing out in midweek. Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao remain long-term absentees.
Real Betis: Adrian, Llorente, Bartra, Rodriguez, Sabaly, Cardoso, Altimira, Isco, Antony, Hernandez, Rodriguez.
Real Madrid: Courtois, Alaba, Tchouameni, Rudiger, Mendy, Asencio, Modric, Camavinga, Vinicius Junior, Mbappe, Rodrygo.
Anything else catch the eye?
This should be a close game, especially with the score ending level on Real Madrid's last two visit to the Benito Villamarin. That makes the half-time draw appealing at 11/8 with BoyleSports.
With Real Betis scoring freely in recent weeks we should see goals at both ends so BTTS and over 3.5 goals looks worth a punt at 6/4 with BoyleSports. Combining BTTS with no draw also appeals at 11/10.
This fixture hasn't been very fiery of late, with under four cards in each of the last three meetings. So it could pay to back under 42.5 booking points once that market is priced up.
This La Liga match between Real Betis and Real Madrid will be played on and kick off at 17:30. Check below for our tipsters best Real Betis vs Real Madrid prediction. You may also visit our dedicated betting previews section for the most up to date previews.
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