Real Madrid's Star-Studded Squad Ready to Fill Mbappe's Boots Against Real Betis
Real Madrid return to competitive action to begin 2026 as they welcome Real Betis on Sunday afternoon, needing to secure maximum points to maintain their position in the La Liga championship hunt.
Xabi Alonso's team concluded 2025 with three consecutive victories across all tournaments, breaking free from a terrible sequence of results that had put the Spanish manager's position in jeopardy. There remains opportunity for Real Madrid to regain their form and compete with Barcelona for the championship, but they cannot continue to lose valuable points.
Adding to the already mounting pressure on Los Blancos, they must face Real Betis without their star striker and top scorer Kylian Mbappé. The French forward has been absolutely brilliant this season, but a persistent knee problem will keep him out for a minimum of three weeks.
Compounding their difficulties, Dean Huijsen also missed the final practice session ahead of the Betis encounter. Should Huijsen be unavailable on Sunday, he would join Mbappé, Dani Carvajal, Éder Militao, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Brahim Díaz among the key players Alonso cannot select.
Despite these absences, losing points to begin the new year would be unacceptable. Los Blancos possess sufficient talent to defeat Manuel Pellegrini's squad, but Alonso must make the correct tactical decisions or his position could face renewed questioning.
Here's how Real Madrid might line up against Real Betis.
Real Madrid Predicted Lineup vs. Real Betis (4-2-3-1)
GK: Thibaut Courtois—Without the Belgian's reliability and numerous outstanding saves during the season's opening half, Real Madrid's poor streak could have been significantly worse.
RB: Federico Valverde—For the second consecutive campaign, Valverde has been required to function as an emergency right-back due to multiple injuries. Nevertheless, he appears more comfortable at right-back than when positioned in central midfield.
CB: Antonio Rüdiger—The experienced German defender will require all his skill and knowledge to neutralize the threatening "Cucho" Hernández.
CB: Raúl Asencio—With Huijsen's participation uncertain, Alonso may choose to exercise caution with the Spanish Super Cup approaching. Asencio will form the central defensive partnership with Rüdiger.
LB: Álvaro Carreras—The ex-Benfica player has provided stability for Los Blancos on the left side, quietly delivering a very impressive first campaign in the Spanish capital.
DM: Aurélien Tchouaméni—While not particularly spectacular, Tchouaméni has maintained consistent performances throughout the season, helping cover positions left empty by injuries and serving as a foundation to liberate Alonso's most inventive midfielders.
DM: Arda Güler—Güler has received numerous chances to demonstrate his abilities, but his performance declined noticeably in late 2025. Alonso continues to utilize the 20-year-old in deeper midfield roles despite his natural attacking midfielder instincts.
RW: Rodrygo—Suddenly the Brazilian has discovered some momentum, contributing three goal involvements in December after failing to record any since the season began while wearing the white jersey.
AM: Jude Bellingham—Bellingham accumulated three goal contributions across his last four matches of 2025. The England midfielder remains among Alonso's most impactful players and the driving force of Real Madrid's offensive play.
LW: Vinicius Junior—If any player needs to elevate their performance during Mbappé's absence, it's Vinicius Jr. The Brazilian followed his Ballon d'Or-caliber 2024 with a disappointing 2025. The expectation is that 2026 will resemble the earlier success.
ST: Gonzalo García—The youth academy product will receive only his second league start of the season, replacing the injured Mbappé. The 21-year-old has struggled to earn consistent playing time following his excellent summer performance in the Club World Cup.
