Real Madrid host Real Betis at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium on Sunday, looking to kick off 2026 on a high and keep up their chase for La Liga success.Real Madrid will be boosted by the fact that they have kept the most number of clean sheets in the division.Xabi Alonso’s squad closed out 2025 strongly, notching three straight triumphs. They capped the year with a 2-0 victory against Sevilla on December 20, holding second spot on 42 points from 18 outings – seven behind Barcelona, with a game in hand. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});Real Madrid team newsThe hosts suffer a major setback as Kylian Mbappé is sidelined with a knee sprain picked up in training. Alonso revealed uncertainty over the striker’s comeback timeline, noting efforts to accelerate his recovery.The Frenchman, who netted 18 times across 18 league outings this term, will miss the showdown with Betis. Madrid are also missing Dani Carvajal (knee), Trent Alexander-Arnold (thigh), Éder Militão (hamstring), and Brahim Díaz (AFCON duty). Dean Huijsen is questionable after sitting out Saturday’s session with knee issues, with Alonso opting for caution. Federico Valverde carries doubt too, nursing overload problems.Despite these setbacks, Vinícius Júnior and Jude Bellingham remain available. Alonso has emphasised that the club will remain “attentive” to the January transfer market as they look to improve their squad.Real Madrid predicted lineupPossible Real Madrid starting XI: Courtois; Valverde, Huijsen, Rudiger, Carreras; Bellingham, Tchouameni, Guler; Rodrygo, G Garcia, Vinicius. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});When will the match kick off?The match will kick off at 3:15pm BST on Sunday, 4th January.How to watch Real Madrid vs Real Betis?UK audiences can tune into 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 – Predicted lineup and team news first appeared on The Football Faithful.