Game on! Juventus need a goal to move back within two points of leaders Napoli.  That's providing they don't concede one too...

All Real Madrid. Another half-chance goes begging as marauding right-back Danilo gets behind the Betis defence and strokes in a square pass towards Ronaldo. His eyes light up, he pulls back that lethal right leg...but sees Betis defender Molinero nip in to pinch the ball off his foot.

These Betis players are dropping like flies. They clearly don't fancy their chances of earning win and clean sheet bonuses if they stay on. Foued Kadir is the latest casualty, with veteran winger Joaquin (remember him?!) coming on.

Half-time pictures suggest Daniele de Rossi might have been lucky to have got only a yellow card for his early off-the-ball brush with Juve striker Mario Mandzukic. Looked like old-school Italian defending.

This should have been the equaliser. More sloppy Betis marking at a set-piece allows James Rodriguez to escape his marker and meet Toni Kroos's corner. But his awkward, swivelled shot is straight at Betis keeper Adan.

Image source, EPA

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Madrid are creating chances and one would respectfully suggest that Betis will allow the visitors more opportunities as their legs tire.

The home side already have on casualty as teenager Fabian Ruiz is forced off with a knock. He is replaced by Dani Ceballos as Betiss appear to go 4-4-1-1.

Here comes the Madrid kitchen sink. Toni Kroos drills a 20-yard shot wide, seconds before the visitors have four chances in about four seconds inside the Betis penalty area.

Ronaldo nods down a cross in the box, Rodriguez has a fresh air shot, Modric scuffs one, Benzema finally striking a clean ball. But Betis keeper Adan stands up to block, Benzema slashing the rebound way over the crossbar.

After a feisty start things have quietened down over in Italy and in truth it's been a pretty uneventful first half.

Juventus have shaded it as they look to keep their title push in top gear but neither side has made a real chance.

Juve forward Paulo Dybala has been the brightest spark and at least warmed the hands of Wojciech Szczesny in stoppage time.

Hopefully things will get better after the break, although no-one is going to give anything away easily in this one.

No changes for Madrid at the restart by the way. That means Benzema and Ronaldo are joined up top by Isco, with James Rodriguez slightly deeper, in the absence of the injured Gareth Bale. 

Madrid's players race back out of the Estadio Benito Villamarín tunnel. They want to get on with this.

Karim Benzema is still moaning about not being given a penalty earlier (see 20:05) , pointing to a mark on his white sock which appears to be a stud mark.

The referee responds by peeping his whistle, effectively telling Benzema to zip it and restart the game...

The Manchester United goalkeeper has signed for Belgian side Standard Liege on loan until the end of the season.

I tell you what is most shocking...the fact that Valdes seems to grown out his shaven haircut for the first time since about 2008.

Edin Dzeko has a sniff of a first chance for Roma but he can't quite get a clean header on a cross before Alessandro Florenzi slices the follow-up horribly wide as things start to even up heading for the break. Five minutes until the teams have chance for a half-time breather.

True, Madrid should have been given a penalty. But it is also true that their Galacticos should have made Betis keeper Adan work harder.

Well, well, well. Who saw that coming?? Betis are halfway towards causing an almighty shock. Remember, they haven't managed to win in 10 matches. They hadn't SCORED in seven matches before Cejudo thumped in their spectacular opener.

Betis defender Bruno González climbs highest to meet the inswinging set-piece, but he cannot direct the ball towards Keylor Navas' goal. And that is the last action before the half-time whistle is blown.

More valuable seconds can be wasted by Betis as striker Ruben Castro tumbles to the ground under a soft challenge from Raphael Varane. This free-kick, about 40 yards from the Madrid goal, should see Betis through to the break.In fact they might even be able to nab a second...

Paul Pogba's go-faster stripes courtesy of his new haircut help him launch another Juventus attack as the home side dominate the first half hour in Turin.

Image source, Getty Images