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Real Madrid – Real Betis – Powerless Madrid Face 2 Key Absences in Vital Betis Upset Bid
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Madrid’s New Year Test: Can Alonso Stop the Slide Against Surging Betis?
The pressure cooker is on at the Santiago Bernabéu. Real Madrid begin 2026 (Real Madrid – Real Betis) not with a celebration, but with a must-win mission as they host a dangerous Real Betis side this Sunday. After a dismal end to 2025 saw them surrender the La Liga lead to Barcelona, the spotlight is blazing on manager Xabi Alonso.
Los Blancos are now a daunting seven points adrift of the summit. With the gap to Barcelona threatening to become a chasm, this home clash is no ordinary fixture—it’s an absolute necessity. Failure to win would represent a catastrophic blow to their title hopes. The task is magnified by a worrying record against their upcoming foes; Madrid have just one win in their last five meetings with Betis, including a 2-1 loss in March 2025.
The atmosphere is further soured by a devastating injury blow. Superstar Kylian Mbappé, the team’s talisman with 18 league goals, is sidelined for at least three weeks with a knee injury. Replacing his output is Alonso’s immediate nightmare. The woes compound as defender Dean Huijsen is also a major doubt after missing final training. They could join a list of six potential absentees, including Éder Militão and Dani Carvajal.
All eyes now turn to the underperforming trio of Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo, and Jude Bellingham. While instrumental in the club’s last Champions League triumph, their form has dipped alarmingly. They must rediscover their magic, and fast. The likely solution up front will be the promising Gonzalo García, whose performance could define Madrid’s January.
In contrast, Manuel Pellegrini’s Real Betis arrive with confidence surging. They are rounding into formidable form and see a vulnerable giant before them. Their recent 4-0 thrashing of Getafe signals a team peaking at the perfect time to cause an upset.
How to Watch the Crucial Clash:
The action kicks off on Sunday, January 4th at 10:15 a.m. ET / 3:15 p.m. GMT. For viewers in the United States, the match will be broadcast on ESPN Deportes and available for live stream via the ESPN App and fuboTV. In the United Kingdom, tune in via Premier Sports 1.
Tactical Preview & Predictions:
Alonso’s Madrid must attack but will be painfully aware of Betis’s counter-attacking prowess. Without Mbappé’s vertical threat, the creativity burden falls heavily on Bellingham. Betis will likely look to control midfield pockets and exploit Madrid’s potential defensive disorganization.
This is a seismic fixture for Alonso’s future. A win revitalizes the campaign; another setback could ignite a true crisis. While the Bernabéu expects a response, Betis’s form and Madrid’s fragility make this a perilous encounter.
Prediction: Real Madrid 1-1 Real Betis. The absence of Mbappé proves too significant to overcome against a well-drilled and confident Betis unit, leading to more frustrated whistles and mounting pressure on the home dugout.