Real Madrid's Mariano Diaz, center left, celebrates with teammates after scoring his side's second goal during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain, March 1, 2020. (MANU FERNANDEZ / AP)

MADRID — Real Madrid need to keep their guard up on Sunday night when they visit an underperforming Real Betis side at the Benito Villamarin Stadium in Seville.

Now Madrid need to take all three points from their trip to the south of Spain in order to build on that triumph and give themselves a launchpad for the rest of the season

Last weekend's 2-0 win over Barcelona returned Zinedine Zidane's side to the top of the Liga Santander, while at the same time ending a run of three games without a win.

Now Madrid need to take all three points from their trip to the south of Spain in order to build on that triumph and give themselves a launchpad for the rest of the season.

Despite boasting players such as Nabil Fekir, Joaquin and Loren Moron in their squad, Betis have not won in their last seven games in all competitions and are closer to the relegation zone than to a place in Europe next season. Those poor results have put pressure on coach Rubi, with the words of Alexis Trujillo, the Coordinator of Betis' Technical Department, that the club was taking it "week by week" with the coach doing little to make him feel more secure in his position.

Rubi meanwhile is bullish about his side's chances saying that Real Madrid are a "team you can hurt," while admitting that his side has to play "almost perfectly" to beat the league leaders.

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Real Madrid coach Zidane has also been in the news during the week with the 'Daily Mail' newspaper linking him to an important offer to coach Juventus next season.

That interest is unlikely to distract Zidane, who again has to decide between Ferland Mendy and Marcelo at left back, but who has the rest of his squad available apart from long term injuries Marcos Asensio and Eden Hazard.

Tony Kroos was vital in Madrid's win over Barca last weekend and Zidane's doubts in midfield will be over whether to bring Luka Modric back into the side or to continue with the more energetic Fede Valverde and whether Isco or Gareth Bale will partner Vinicius Jr and Karim Benzema in attack.

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Benzema hasn't scored since February 1, but is a key part of Madrid's buildup play, while Vinicius is very much flavor of the week after his goal against Barcelona and Betis will have to be wary of his pace otherwise they could be looking for a new coach next week.