Now, Antony faces his toughest test yet as Real Betis prepares to host Real Madrid on Saturday. The match comes at a critical juncture in La Liga, with Madrid locked in a tight three-way battle for the league lead.
Betis coach Manuel Pellegrini has been full of praise for the Brazilian winger. “He’s a game-changer, no doubt about it,” Pellegrini said on the eve of the Madrid clash. “In an instant, he can turn a match around. His contributions—goals, assists, and overall play—have been invaluable. He’s a player with immense talent, and we’re focused on helping him reach his full potential.”
Antony will be available for the match after the Spanish soccer federation’s disciplinary committee overturned a red card he received in his last outing.
Madrid’s Midfield Woes
Real Madrid, meanwhile, will be without several key players. Star midfielder Jude Bellingham is serving the second game of a two-match suspension for verbally abusing a referee. Additionally, Dani Ceballos, who had recently earned a starting role, is sidelined for several weeks with a leg injury. To compound matters, Fernando Valverde will be rested to recover from a minor knock ahead of Madrid’s Champions League clash with Atletico Madrid next week.
Despite these absences, Madrid’s midfield remains formidable. Eduardo Camavinga is expected to start, while Aurélien Tchouaméni could return to his natural holding midfield role as the team’s defensive injury crisis eases. Veteran Luka Modric and young talent Arda Güler are likely to fill the remaining midfield spot, offering creativity and attacking flair.
“It’s unfortunate about Ceballos because he was contributing significantly with his work rate and skill,” said Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti. “But as always, we’ll find solutions. My focus is on the strength of our opponent, not our missing players.”
La Liga Title Race Heats Up
The stakes couldn’t be higher in La Liga, with Madrid tied on points with league leaders Barcelona and Atletico Madrid just one point behind. Atletico will face fourth-placed Athletic Bilbao on Saturday, while Barcelona seeks redemption against Real Sociedad on Sunday after losing their previous encounter this season.
However, both Madrid and Atletico have one eye on their upcoming Champions League round-of-16 clash, set for Tuesday at the Santiago Bernabéu. Despite the European showdown looming, Ancelotti insists his team will go all out against Betis. “We’ll field our strongest lineup to secure the three points, which are crucial in the title race,” he said.