With one eye on the highly anticipated Madrid derby next week in the UEFA Champions League, Real Madrid travel to Real Betis in La Liga play on Saturday.
Los Blancos may know what’s on the horizon, but they cannot take their concentration off the league as the title race remains firmly in the balance. Madrid are level with Barcelona on points, trailing only thanks to their inferior goal differential.
One Real Madrid superstar is likely to return to the fold in this match, but another will miss out.
Real Betis, meanwhile, are proving a tough test this season, sitting seventh in the table on the back of three wins across their past five league games. They have also been a pain in the rear for Real Madrid, picking up a point in five of their most recent eight games against Carlo Ancelotti’s side.
The Sporting News runs through the latest team news and injury updates for both teams.
MORE: Real Madrid defender ‘has played his last game’ for the club
Real Betis vs. Real Madrid lineups, predicted starting 11, team news
Real Betis are laden with a few key injuries that could hamper their chances in this match.
Midfielder Gio Lo Celso is out for another few weeks with a muscle injury, and the same is true for Abde Ezzalzouli. Hector Bellerin is in concussion protocol leaving him a doubt, and Marc Roca is likely out for a few weeks with a new foot injury.
William Carvalho was thought likely to be out for the season with a September ACL tear, but he has returned to training and could be working his way back soon. Antony is free to play after seeing his one-game ban for his red card against Getafe rescinded after an appeal.
Real Betis predicted lineup (4-2-3-1, right to left): Adrian (GK) — Sabaly, Bartra, Llorente, R. Rodriguez — Johnny, Altimira — Antony, Isco, J. Rodriguez — Roque
Injured: Carvalho (ACL, doubt), Bellerin (concussion, doubt), Lo Celso (muscle), Ezzalzoui (muscle), Roca (foot)
Suspended: None
MORE: All the latest Real Madrid news | Latest La Liga top goal scorer list | Latest Champions League top goal scorer list
After missing the midweek Copa del Rey win over Real Sociedad, Kylian Mbappe is likely to return this weekend. Ancelotti rested the French superstar while he was dealing with pain from a tooth extraction, but he should be fine to press on.
One player not available for Madrid will be Jude Bellingham who is suspended for this game thanks to his recent red card. In addition, Federico Valverde is likely to miss out as well, as his hamstring discomfort will reportedly keep him sidelined this weekend and leaves him a doubt for the upcoming Champions League game.
Dani Ceballos has gone down with a knee injury and will be out for two months. He joins Eder Militao and Dani Carvajal on the long-term shelf.
Real Madrid predicted lineup (4-3-3, right to left): Courtois (GK) — L. Vazquez, Alaba, Rudiger, Mendy — Tchouameni, Camavinga — Rodrygo, B. Diaz, Vinicius Jr. — Mbappe
Injured: Militao (ACL), Carvajal (ACL), Ceballos (knee), Valverde (hamstring), Mbappe (head, doubt)
Suspended: Bellingham (red card)
Real Betis vs. Real Madrid live stream, TV channel
Here’s how to watch this La Liga match across selected areas of the world’s major regions:
