Real Madrid face Real Betis on Sunday afternoon at their home ground Santiago Bernabeu, aiming to maintain start 2026 with a strong performance and continue their push for the La Liga title.Real Madrid vs Real Betis – Match preview and team newsDate: Sunday, 4th January.Kick-off: 3:15pm BST.Venue: Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid.Real Madrid team newsReal Madrid face a significant blow with Kylian Mbappé ruled out due to a knee sprain sustained during a training session earlier this week. Manager Xabi Alonso admitted he “doesn’t know” when the French forward will return, saying the club are working to have him back “as soon as possible.” Mbappé has scored 18 goals in 18 La Liga games this season, but has now been ruled out of the Betis fixture.Additionally, Real Madrid will be without Dani Carvajal (knee), Trent Alexander-Arnold (thigh), Éder Militão (hamstring) and Brahim Díaz (AFCON). Dean Huijsen remains a doubt after missing training on Saturday due to knee discomfort, though manager Alonso stated he was being cautious. Federico Valverde is also flagged as doubtful following overload issues. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});Real Betis team newsReal Betis head coach Manuel Pellegrini has confirmed a 22-man squad for their trip to the Bernabéu, with only Isco sidelined due to a muscle injury. Junior Firpo and Diego Llorente have returned to full training after recovering from muscle injuries sustained before the Christmas break and are expected to be available.Brazilian winger Antony, who had experienced muscle fatigue at the start of the week, has been included in the matchday squad. Pellegrini’s side remain largely unchanged, with no major fitness concerns expected to impact team selection for the La Liga clash.FormReal MadridXabi Alonso’s side ended 2025 positive note, securing three crucial victories consecutively. Their 2025 concluded with a 2-0 win over Sevilla on December 20, securing second place in the table with 42 points from 18 matches, trailing Barcelona by four.Real BetisReal Betis have been in exceptional form, particularly over the festive perio The Seville club delivered a dominant 4-0 performance against Getafe on December 21, with striker Cucho Hernández scoring and assisting in the rout.Aitor Ruibal scored twice in that fixture, while Pablo Fornals also got on the scoresheet, highlighting Pellegrini’s side’s attacking prowess. Betis currently sit in sixth place with 28 points from 17 matches, just two points. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});Predicted lineupsReal Madrid: Courtois; Valverde, Huijsen, Rudiger, Carreras; Bellingham, Tchouameni, Guler; Rodrygo, G Garcia, Vinicius.Real Betis: Valles; Bellerin, Natan, Bartra, Gomez; Deossa, Roca; Antony, Fornals, Ruibal; Hernandez.How to watch Real Madrid vs Real Betis?UK viewers can watch Real Madrid vs Real Betis live on Premier Sports 1.Read Also – Aston Villa eye signings to boost Premier League title bidSee More – Emery delighted as Aston Villa bounce back with Forest winFollow the Football Faithful on Social Media:Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTubeThe post Real Madrid vs Real Betis – Match preview and team news first appeared on The Football Faithful.