Madrid face Betis without Mbappé as title hopes hang in the balance
Real Madrid must navigate a tricky clash with in-form Real Betis without their star striker, as pressure mounts on Xabi Alonso to keep their La Liga challenge alive.
Madrid’s title aspirations face another stern test as they host an in-form Betis side without talisman Kylian Mbappé and with several key players underperforming.
Crisis mode at the Bernabéu?
What a way to kick off 2026 at the Bernabéu! Xabi Alonso’s stuttering Madrid side, still somehow clinging to their La Liga hopes, welcome Manuel Pellegrini’s bubbling Betis outfit in what promises to be a proper test for the capital club.
The hosts enter this fixture in a right two and eight, with Mbappé sidelined due to a knee injury that could have been exacerbated in pursuit of a rather meaningless record. The Frenchman’s absence couldn’t come at a worse time for Los Blancos, whose title challenge has lost considerable momentum in recent weeks.
It wasn’t long ago that Madrid were bossing the league with authority, but a proper crisis kicked off after Celta Vigo stormed the Bernabéu – a defeat that nearly cost Xabi his job. The gaffer appears to have weathered that storm, but as we all know, tranquility at Madrid is as short-lived as a January diet.
Selection headaches
Injuries continue to plague Madrid’s squad:
- Mbappé’s absence leaves a massive void up front
- Isco (who became a global star at Madrid) can’t face his former club
- Huijsen remains trapped in a cycle of muscle problems
- No fit right-back available, forcing Xabi to improvise with Asencio or Fede
Rodrygo looks set to fill Mbappé’s position, though not his role, likely operating as a false nine alongside Vinicius and Bellingham – two players whose performances remain under intense scrutiny.
The Brazilian is enduring a barren spell of 14 matches without finding the net, while the Englishman, despite showing more goal-scoring form, is nowhere near the playmaker the team desperately needs. It’s unlikely Madrid will address this creative deficit in the January window, which typically offers few viable options.
Betis on the up
For Betis, the trip to the Bernabéu couldn’t come at a better time. The Verdiblancos are alive in all three competitions and headed into the Christmas break after hammering Getafe.
Not even the absences of the injured Isco or Abde and Amrabat (both at the Africa Cup of Nations alongside Bakambu) seem to have diminished their potential. With Antony looking to impress in a world-class showcase and potentially convince Ancelotti of his Brazil World Cup credentials, Betis will aim to win the midfield battle through Deossa and Roca, giving Fornals the freedom to be their key creator.
A slip-up today would pile pressure back on Xabi and cast a shadow over Madrid’s approach to the Spanish Super Cup – a competition many at Valdebebas view as the potential turning point of their season.