Betis coach fears Real ‘raging bull’

LIVING in one of the main centres of Spain’s bull-fighting culture, Seville natives know a thing or two about dealing with the angry beasts but Real Betis coach Pepe Mel would rather not have to in La Liga tomorrow.

Betis, the second-division champions who are based in the Andalusian capital, play at Real Madrid’s Bernabeu stadium after the world’s richest club by income were held to a 0-0 draw at another promoted side, Sporting Gijon, in their opening game of the campaign last weekend.

It was a frustrating return to La Liga for Real’s new coach Rafa Benitez and he and the players, including FIFA Ballon d’Or holder Cristiano Ronaldo, will be desperate to put on a good show for their fans.

Mel, who returned to Betis in December after a failed stint at English club West Bromwich Albion, dismissed such concerns as “laughable”.

“It seems like a joke because they have a player (Ronaldo) who will score more goals on his own than 15 of the teams in the first division,” he said in an interview with As sports daily published yesterday.

“I have a soft spot for the fans of Sporting but we would have liked Madrid to have beaten them convincingly because now we get the raging bull,” he added.

Spanish and European champions Barcelona, chasing a sixth La Liga title in eight years, host Malaga tomorrow after winning 1-0 at Athletic Bilbao on the opening weekend.

Barca coach Luis Enrique could have Neymar back after illness, reuniting the club’s lethal attack of the Brazil forward, Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez, who netted a Spanish record 122 goals among them last season.

Possibly the game of matchday two sees Europa League holders Sevilla at home to 2014 Champions League finalists Atletico Madrid on Sunday. – Reuters