Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti will make two changes to his squad when they host Real Betis for a crucial La Liga match, which is due to be played late on Sunday evening at the Bernabeu in the Spanish capital.

After the Catalans beat Real Valladolid on Saturday, FC Barcelona now lead their arch-rivals in the top spot by seven points, putting pressure on Ancelotti and his men to show what they are made of in their final club match before the international break in September.

When Ancelotti was asked about the deficit, when it was only four points, at a press conference a few hours before the match, he said it was just a “detail”.

“It’s a detail, (but) what has affected us the most is that we haven’t played at our best. The season is very long, but we are four points behind because we haven’t played well,” Ancelotti said.

“Criticism here is normal. We are not worried about that. We will continue to criticize on some points until May. Whatever happens, happens…”, he reflected on another point of his conversation with the press.

Madrid have won just one of their three games so far, drawing the other two (1-1). Ancelotti explained that he and his staff have “detected” the problem and “hope to have a good solution tomorrow”.

“It’s not that complicated, we have to defend better,” Ancelotti said. “The statistics don’t say that we conceded many goals, but the feeling is that we find it difficult to win the ball back and that the opponent plays too much between the lines.”

On the way to the late evening divided, Madrid make two changes from the side that drew in Las Palmas on Thursday after they went behind to an Albert Moleiro strike.

Dani Carvajal helps protect Thibaut Courtois’ goal and returns to the right-back position, where he will play in defence alongside Eder Militao, Antonio Rudiger and Ferland Mendy.

In midfield, Fede Valverde is supported by Aurelien Tchouameni, who is assisted by Dani Ceballos, who replaces the experienced captain Luka Modric.

Up front, it is the same trio of Rodrygo, Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr. who have scored just one goal from open play so far in the 2024/25 La Liga season.

Real Madrid vs Real Betis starting lineup: Courtois; Carvajal, Militao, Rudiger, Mendy; Tchouameni, Ceballos, Valverde; Rodrygo, Mbappe, Vinicius