Real Madrid travel to face Real Betis on Friday evening in La Liga's fourth round, seeking to reverse a troubling trend in their away performances. The Whites have won just four of their last eight matches on the road, a concerning downturn that contrasts sharply with their remarkable record in Friday fixtures at home.
Friday's Fortune and Away Woes
Real Madrid's Friday night performances in La Liga tell a starkly different narrative. According to Opta statistics, the club has recorded an extraordinary 10-match scoring streak in Friday La Liga matches—combining seven victories and three draws—stretching back to a 3-0 demolition of Deportivo La Coruña in 2002. Yet their away form paints a gloomier picture: three defeats in the last eight away matches represent a significant deterioration, compared to just two losses across their previous 17 La Liga away trips.
Betis present their own formidable challenge. The Andalusian side remains unbeaten in their last 18 Friday home matches in La Liga, with 11 wins and seven draws forming an impressive defensive foundation. Manuel Pellegrini's men have also won four consecutive home matches and remain undefeated across their last 12 home fixtures in the league.
Bellingham and Mbappe's Early Impact
Real Madrid's attacking partnership has already made its mark on the season. Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappe have become the club's first duo to each contribute to four goals in the opening three La Liga matches since the 2018-19 campaign, when Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema achieved the same feat. Bellingham has notched two goals and two assists, while Mbappe has netted four goals in this early sprint.
Betis will lean on Cucho Hernández to counter Real Madrid's firepower. The Colombian forward boasts a proven record against the Whites, having scored in two of his last four La Liga starts against them—once in a Huesca shirt in March 2019 and again for Betis in January 2024.
Pellegrini brings extensive familiarity with this fixture, having managed 27 La Liga matches against Real Madrid. The Chilean coach's 11 draws against Madrid represent his highest total against any single opponent in the competition, matching his record versus Sevilla. This Friday's encounter will test whether Real Madrid's away form can recover or whether Betis' home dominance holds firm.
