Real Madrid can reclaim La Liga's perch as their own when they travel to Real Betis on Saturday evening, but manager Zinedine Zidane must make do with a squad hampered by injuries.Los Blancos make their way to Seville currently level on points with joint-leaders Atletico Madrid, while Betis lie in 15th after winning just two of their seven games so far in the 2016-17 campaign.Zidane will be on high alert after seeing his side draw their last four games in succession, however, and Real are hoping to avoid going five matches without a win, a streak they haven't recorded since 2009, per Soccerway.Manager Gus Poyet welcomes major opposition to theEstadio Benito Villamarin knowing that victory would help rally support for his leadership of the club, not to mention thrust his side up the table.Read on for a preview of Saturday's encounter, complete with all the latest team news and viewing information ahead of what promises to be a tense Week 8 fixture.Date:Saturday, October 15Time:7:45 p.m. BST/2:45 p.m. ETVenue:Estadio Benito Villamarin, Seville, SpainLive Stream:Sky Go app (UK), FuboTV (US), beIN Sports Connect (US)TV Info:Sky Sports 5 (UK), beIN Sports 3 (US) Team NewsAs if Real's recent injury woes weren't enough to leave Zidane questioning his team selection for the trip to Seville, captain Sergio Ramos was an unfortunate addition to the treatment table during the international break.Spanish newspaperMarca confirmed the centre-back will be out of action for a month after tearing a knee ligament in Sunday's 2-0 win over Albania, and BBC Sport's Andy West expanded upon the growing injury list:As West mentioned, left-back Marcelo won't feature against Betis, nor will the midfield pairing of Luka Modric or Casemiro, meaning the likes of Isco and Mateo Kovacic are in contention to start alongside Toni Kroos.More positively for Zidane, beIN Sports reporter Gabrielle Amado said James Rodriguez and Fabio Coentrao could feature in Saturday's fixture, offering options in attack and defence, respectively:Betis boss Poyet isn't known to have picked up any fresh fitness concerns, but it seems the Uruguayan may be still be without a crocked bunch that includes Aissa Mandi, Riza Durmisi, Antonio Sanabria, Jonas Martin and Rafa Navarro.Mandi, Durmisi and Navarro are the only players in that group who played for the club in September, and Poyet confirmed at the end of last month the injury list he's working with, per Football Espana:We're missing a lot of players - I don't want to hide behind that but it is the truth, Mandi, Jonas, Sanabria, Durmisi and Rafa Navarro are all unavailable, but we want to maintain the system and the ideas.I'm pleased with our squad, I like to have 25 players as it means you have tough decisions to make and it keeps players on their toes...it also means that in instances like this, when we have a few injuries, we have options to bring in.Martin and Sanabria have played for Betis just once and twice each so far this season, but it seems likely Poyet will be forced to examine his options in fine detail ahead of what's shaping up to be a tough encounter.PreviewSaturday's hosts will be leaning largely upon the experience of star striker Ruben Castro to pull off a result in Week 8, and the 35-year-old had some positive news on the club front during the international break.Marca reporter Geoff Gillingham confirmed the news that Castro had put pen to paper on a new deal with the Seville clubThis will also be a grand occasion for Betis youngster Dani Ceballos, once linked with a move to Real Madrid, per Marca(h/tExpress). However, he is struggling to recapture his finest form.The 20-year-old had his first 90-minute outing of the season in last month's 1-0 defeat at Real Sociedad, and David Cartlidge of beIN Sports agreed Betis are expecting more from one of Spain's biggest prospects:For Real, this will be a test of depth one might expect the title contenders to pass, although absences in key areas could mean the away trip is a treacherous one.
Click here to read full news..
