Mbappe-less Real Madrid handed tricky Real Betis test in 2026 curtain-raiser | OneFootball

Real Madrid will aim to stay within touching distance of La Liga leaders Barcelona when they welcome Real Betis to the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday.

With Barcelona in action against Espanyol on Saturday, Xabi Alonso’s men could be seven points off the top by kick-off, further reducing an already slim margin for error in the title race.

Madrid closed out 2025 with a much-needed 2-0 victory over Sevilla, earning their first consecutive league wins since November.

Goals from Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappe were the difference. However, with Mbappe now sidelined due to a knee injury, Madrid will need others to step up if they are to see off Betis.

Alonso’s men boast a good record in this fixture, losing just one of the last 10 meetings dating back to September 2020.

They suffered that one defeat in the most recent match in March, when Johnny Cardoso and Isco scored to overturn Brahim Diaz’s 10th-minute opener.

Sunday’s clash is the hosts’ final outing before they head to Saudi Arabia for the Spanish Super Cup, which starts with a high-profile match against city rivals Atletico Madrid.

Building on an impressive 2024-25 campaign – finishing sixth in La Liga and reaching the Europa Conference League final – Betis have put together another strong season.

Manuel Pellegrini’s men emphatically defeated Getafe 4-0 to make it 12 unbeaten in the last 13 games across all competitions.

Only the current top two have lost fewer matches than Los Verdiblancos (three). They have played out seven stalemates, second only to Celta Vigo’s eight.

Six of Betis’ seven draws have come away from home, and they would likely be satisfied with a point from their upcoming trip to the capital.

Sunday’s visitors have kept three consecutive clean sheets, although a shut-out this weekend looks unlikely against a Madrid side that has only failed to score in one home game over the last 12 months.