Real Madrid Prepares For Champions League Final 2023

By tontimes May 21, 2022 Sports 0 Comments

Real Madrid and Real Betis played to a goalless draw on the eve of the Champions League final. With a goalless draw with Real Betis at the Bernabeu on Friday, Real Madrid wrapped up their La Liga triumph and warmed up for next week’s Champions League final against Liverpool. As we wait for the D day, let us look at how Real Madrid prepares for the champions league final.

With Real Madrid already confirmed as champions and Betis knowing they will miss out on a place in the Champions League. Neither side had much to play for. And the relaxed celebratory mood was evident in the game. Madrid received a guard of honor before kickoff and returned the favor to Copa del Rey winners Betis.

“We played the game we wanted to play, take no risks, play at a good rhythm… I didn’t want to take risks,” Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti told Movistar afterward. “We can now rest for two days and prepare for the game. The rhythm was quite slow, we didn’t push too much, we tried to control the ball, I can’t ask for more.”

Overview Real Madrid Game Vs Real Betis

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And, while Carlo Ancelotti began with a lineup similar to the one he is expected to field in Paris on May 28, opportunities were few and far between.

Karim Benzema, who was looking to pass Raul for second place on Madrid’s all-time scoring list, was unable to capitalize on Madrid’s two best chances, which came in the first and last ten minutes. Betis’ best chance came late in the game when veteran substitute Joaquin shot wide from close range on his 600th LaLiga appearance.

The only notable absence from Madrid’s lineup was David Alaba, though Ancelotti stated afterward that the defender would be “100%” ready for the Champions League final.

Isco also made a cameo appearance in his final appearance at the Bernabeu before departing this summer. Gareth Bale, another player on his way out, did not play, but Ancelotti suggested he could still make his final appearance for the club in Paris.

Ancelotti has made it clear that he knows who will start against Liverpool.

“I’m clear who’ll play from the start and then we’ll see what happens during the game,” he said. “We won’t start with 11 and finish with the same 11, there’ll be changes during the game.

“The plan is quite clear, we know the opponent well, Liverpool is a great team with different characteristics, we have to play a game to show the strengths we have.”

Real Madrid finished the LaLiga season with 86 points from 38 games, putting them 13 points ahead of Barcelona in the final game of the season.

Real Betis

Betis remain fifth in the table with 65 points after winning the Copa del Rey last month and qualifying for next season’s Europa League.

Manuel Pellegrini’s team is two points behind fourth-placed Sevilla, but they were already out of contention for a Champions League spot due to a poor head-to-head record.