REAL MADRID ENDS SEASON WITH A DRAW AGAINST REAL BETIS AS MARCELO DEPARTS.
Real Madrid wrapped up their domestic campaign by playing out a goalless draw against Real Betis. The Spanish champions have failed to win in their last five home league meetings with ‘Los Verdiblancos’, but they will waste no time dwelling on that statistic, as they begin to prepare for the UEFA Champions League final.
For only the second time in Spanish football history, Real Madrid were crowned La Liga champions in the same season that Real Betis lifted the Copa del Rey trophy, so it was only fitting that the two sides met in the final match of the league season. Although neither side had much to play for, an enjoyable first half offered up a number of half-chances. The 12th minute yielded the game’s first shot on target, with Thibaut Courtois saving comfortably to gather Guido Rodríguez’s driven effort. Luka Modrić quickly offered Real Madrid’s response, forcing Rui Silva into his first meaningful save before Betis’ striker Willian José whipped an effort wide. An open first half turned out to be a tale of near-misses, which was summed up by Casemiro firing past Silva’s post moments before HT.
After watching the first half pass him by, Real Madrid’s talisman Karim Benzema started the second period in dangerous fashion. The Frenchman drew a smart stop from Silva, and only minutes later, he threatened the Betis goal once again, dragging the ball past the far post. As the encounter progressed, the intensity began to drop, resulting in goalmouth action becoming a rare occurrence, but that didn’t disappoint the home fans, who were far more invested in witnessing Marcelo’s farewell to the Santiago Bernabéu. Appearing for what could be the final time in a Real Madrid shirt, Marcelo was greeted to the pitch by his adoring faithful to feature for the final 20 minutes.
With neither side able to find a winner, Real Madrid finish their championship winning season on 86 points. The visitors, meanwhile, will be pleased to end the campaign in fifth position, bettering last season’s sixth-place finish.
