Failure to beat Real Betis would spell Real Madrid's worst opening half to a season this century LaLiga Santander Finished 2005/06 with 33 points at halfway stage

Real Madrid go to the Estadio Benito Villamarin on Sunday looking to avoid a historical negative record.

If Santiago Solari's men fail to pick up three points against Real Betis, they will have endured their worst opening half to a league season in the 21st century.

They have never had such a low amount of points after 19 games in LaLiga Santander since 2005/06 when they had 33 at this stage of the campaign.

Their poor points tally of 30 points after 18 games, rekindling memories of darker days, brings to mind seasons of crisis such as the one in 1999/2000.

After 29 games in the league, they had a paltry 29 points in that particular disappointing season.

Los Blancos did, however, end up finishing on a high by winning their eighth Champions League crown at the end of the campaign.

Solari has an opportunity, in a team plagued by injuries, to enter the club's history books for the wrong reasons.

Three important points could prevent that from occurring and keep some flame of hope, however small, to 'save' themselves from a bad record.