Good evening everybody and welcome to another MARCA in English live blog, this time taking you through the LaLiga clash between Real Madrid and Real Betis from the Santiago Bernabeu.
Both teams have little to play for with Carlo Ancelotti's men having already clinched the LaLiga title ahead of next weekend's Champions League final. As for Manuel Pellegrini's side, they will feature in the Europa Conference league next season thanks to a seventh-place finish.
Real Madrid are coming off a thrilling 4-4 draw against Villarreal last time out, and will look to make it four games with at least four goals - having done so against Alaves and Granada as well.
They'll also be keen to extend their record for the longest unbeaten run in LaLiga history, which currently stands at 31 games.
When it comes to Real Betis, the Andalusian side saw their six-match unbeaten run come to a halt last time out with a 2-0 defeat at home to Real Sociedad, in what was just their third home defeat of the campaign.
Real Madrid vs Real Betis Live - Latest Updates
Second Half ends, Real Madrid 0, Real Betis 0.
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Delay in match because of an injury Fran Vieites (Real Betis).
Foul by Marc Roca (Real Betis).
Rodrygo (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Attempt blocked. Luka Modric (Real Madrid) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Rodrygo.
Substitution, Real Madrid. Dani Ceballos replaces Toni Kroos.
Attempt missed. Federico Valverde (Real Madrid) left footed shot from outside the box is too high following a corner.
Corner, Real Madrid. Conceded by Fran Vieites.
Attempt saved. Toni Kroos (Real Madrid) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
Sokratis Papastathopoulos (Real Betis) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Sokratis Papastathopoulos (Real Betis).
Attempt saved. Abde Ezzalzouli (Real Betis) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved.
Substitution, Real Betis. Abde Ezzalzouli replaces Willian José.
Foul by Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid).
Juan Miranda (Real Betis) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Offside, Real Madrid. Lucas Vázquez is caught offside.
Attempt missed. Toni Kroos (Real Madrid) right footed shot from outside the box.
Attempt missed. Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Rodrygo.
Substitution, Real Madrid. Luka Modric replaces Eduardo Camavinga.
Substitution, Real Madrid. Lucas Vázquez replaces Dani Carvajal.
Attempt missed. Johnny Cardoso (Real Betis) header from the centre of the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Juan Miranda with a cross following a set piece situation.
Substitution, Real Betis. Sergi Altimira replaces Rodri.
Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid).
Juan Miranda (Real Betis) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Attempt missed. Antonio Rüdiger (Real Madrid) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Toni Kroos with a cross following a corner.
Corner, Real Madrid. Conceded by Ricardo Visus.
Offside, Real Madrid. Eduardo Camavinga is caught offside.
Offside, Real Betis. Ayoze Pérez is caught offside.
Attempt blocked. Ayoze Pérez (Real Betis) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Substitution, Real Madrid. Éder Militão replaces Nacho.
Substitution, Real Madrid. Kepa replaces Thibaut Courtois.
Offside, Real Madrid. Vinícius Júnior is caught offside.
Corner, Real Betis. Conceded by Thibaut Courtois.
Attempt saved. Juan Miranda (Real Betis) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Ayoze Pérez.
Corner, Real Madrid. Conceded by Héctor Bellerín.
Corner, Real Madrid. Conceded by Johnny Cardoso.
Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Sokratis Papastathopoulos (Real Betis).
Foul by Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid).
Rodri (Real Betis) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt saved. Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Toni Kroos.
Offside, Real Madrid. Vinícius Júnior is caught offside.
Attempt missed. Sokratis Papastathopoulos (Real Betis) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Juan Miranda with a cross following a corner.
Corner, Real Betis. Conceded by Thibaut Courtois.
Attempt saved. Ayoze Pérez (Real Betis) right footed shot from outside the box is saved.
Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Johnny Cardoso (Real Betis).
Corner, Real Betis. Conceded by Nacho.
Attempt missed. Youssouf Sabaly (Real Betis) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right.
Second Half begins Real Madrid 0, Real Betis 0.
Nothing separating the teams at the break
Bellerín complains to the referee about the disallowed goal, who explains that it was offside. That moment was the most important of the first half, as the opening 45 minutes was low on action.
It is normal given it's the final matchday and what is at stake. We will see what the second half has to offer, as Real Madrid says goodbye to Kroos.
![Real Madrid fans unveil a banner for Toni Kroos in what is his last LaLiga match with the club](https://e00-marca.uecdn.es/assets/multimedia/imagenes/2024/05/25/17166667524103.jpg)
First Half ends, Real Madrid 0, Real Betis 0.
VAR Checking: Real Betis Goal (Johnny Cardoso).
Goal! Real Madrid 0, Real Betis 1. Johnny Cardoso (Real Betis) left footed shot from very close range following a set piece situation.
Foul by Federico Valverde (Real Madrid).
Rodri (Real Betis) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Attempt missed. Héctor Bellerín (Real Betis) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Youssouf Sabaly with a cross.
Attempt missed. Héctor Bellerín (Real Betis) left footed shot from outside the box.
Attempt saved. Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box is saved.
Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Ayoze Pérez (Real Betis).
Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Ayoze Pérez (Real Betis).
Corner, Real Betis. Conceded by Jude Bellingham.
Foul by Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid).
Sokratis Papastathopoulos (Real Betis) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt blocked. Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Federico Valverde.
Attempt saved. Ferland Mendy (Real Madrid) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Federico Valverde.
Attempt missed. Rodri (Real Betis) left footed shot from outside the box following a fast break.
Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Rodri (Real Betis).
Foul by Antonio Rüdiger (Real Madrid).
Foul by Ayoze Pérez (Real Betis).
Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Juan Miranda (Real Betis).
Hand ball by Willian José (Real Betis).
Attempt blocked. Ferland Mendy (Real Madrid) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Attempt missed. Rodrygo (Real Madrid) right footed shot from the centre of the box.
Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Youssouf Sabaly (Real Betis).
Attempt missed. Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid) right footed shot from the right side of the box.
Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Nacho (Real Madrid) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Nacho (Real Madrid).
Héctor Bellerín (Real Betis) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Corner, Real Betis. Conceded by Nacho.
Foul by Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid).
Ayoze Pérez (Real Betis) wins a free kick on the left wing.
First Half begins.
Questions about Nacho?
What about Nacho? His departure seemed certain, but he hasn't said anything and it would be strange if he played his last game at the Bernabéu today with no tribute planned? Will he stay?
All eyes are rightly on Kroos
![PARTIDO DE LIGA ENTRE lt;HIT gt;REAL lt;/HIT gt; lt;HIT gt;MADRID lt;/HIT gt; Y BETIS. CALENTAMIENTO](https://e00-marca.uecdn.es/assets/multimedia/imagenes/2024/05/25/17166625058585.jpg)
Plaudits come in for Kroos ahead of final LaLiga game with Real Madrid
"A maestro, an impeccable playmaker. He knows what the game needs, short, long, he looks for the wingers, he knows the rhythm to impose.... He is a player who rarely loses a ball. I remember his first game, the 2014 European Super Cup, when he had been in the team for six days and didn't lose a ball", says Emilio Butragueño about Toni Kroos.
Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
The Real Betis line-up is in!
Vieites; Sabaly, Sokratis, Visus, Miranda; Johnny, Marc Roca, Bellerín, Rodri, Ayoze, William José.
Ancelotti hoping to finish the season on a high note
Here's what the two coaches had to say before the match.
Ancelotti: "I think it all started with the Tenth".
"We have worked well this week and we want to finish well. It's been a fantastic campaign, we've done very well from the start. Tomorrow we say goodbye to a legend of our club [Kroos] and we want to enjoy it. It's an important day. We are very happy with how we have handled this League, which has been deserved and with many points. For me it has been the easiest to manage as an atmosphere and a squad. The players have done very well."
Pellegrini: "I would have loved to have Kroos in my time at Madrid, he has tremendous quality."
"Always, regardless of who you end up with, it's good to end the season well. Of course it is more important to play against Real Madrid, who will be playing in the Champions League final. Fortunately, we have already achieved our European objective. So hopefully we will see a very good soccer match knowing that maybe it is not the most competitive way to get to these matches because we are not fighting for anything and they have a final. But I think it's going to be a very good game".
Preview of Wembley?
Ancelotti starts with the players that are expected to take the field against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League final next Saturday.
The Real Madrid starting line-up is in!
Courtois; Carvajal, Rüdiger, Nacho, Mendy; Camavinga, Valverde, Kroos, Bellingham; Vinicius, Rodrygo
Real Madrid vs Real Betis - Possible lineups
No real changes for Real Madrid when it comes to injuries, as David Alaba remains sidelined with his ACL injury, while Aurelien Tchouameni is unavailable due to a foot injury.
Otherwise Ancelotti has a full squad available to him, with the question being whether he will play his usual starters ahead of the Champions League final or give them a rest.
One thing that is certain is that whether he starts or comes off the bench, Saturday's match will be Toni Kroos' final LaLiga match as he has announced he will retire from football after the Euros.
As for Betis, Aitor Ruibal was set to return from suspension but is unavailable due to unknown reasons, while Isco is sidelines with a fibula fracture.
Marc Bartra and Cedric Bakambu are also out, along with Guido Rodriguez, German Pezzella, Chimy Avila, Abner Vinicius, Pablo Fornals and William Carvalho.
Chad Riad will also miss the match as he looks set to join Crystal Palace.
Real Madrid predicted XI: Courtois; Carvajal, Rudiger, Nacho, Mendy; Valverde, Camavinga, Kroos; Bellingham; Rodrygo, Vinicius Junior
Real Betis predicted XI: Bravo; Sabaly, Sokratis, Visus, Miranda; Roca, Cardoso; Ezzalzouli, Fekir, Perez; Jose
Where to watch Real Madrid vs Real Betis?
For fans in the United Kingdom and Ireland, Real Madrid vs Real Betis can be seen on Viaplay Sports 2, Viaplay UK and LaLiga TV.
US-based fans will be able to see Real Madrid vs Real Betis on ESPN+ and ESPN Deportes.
What time does Real Madrid vs Real Betis start?
Real Madrid vs Real Betis is a 21:00 CET kick-off, which is local time in Spain. That means fans in the UK and Ireland will find the game starting at 20:00 GMT.
Fans in the USA can tune in to watch Real Madrid vs Real Betis at 15:00 ET / 12:00 PT.
Match ends, Real Madrid 0, Real Betis 0.