Real Madrid must win the next game to reduce the growing point deficit with table toppers Barca. Looking at their home advantage, we expect them to win a close game.
Match info: La Liga
Venue: Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
Date: Sunday, January 4, 2026
Time: 4:15 pm Nigerian time
Real Madrid will be aiming to start their 2026 on a positive note when they welcome Real Betis to Bernabeu on Sunday afternoon.
Los Blancos are second in the La Liga table, four points behind the leaders Barcelona, while Betis are sixth, five points ahead of seventh-placed Celta Vigo.
Head-to-head:
- Real Madrid have won 77 of the last 141 meetings between the two teams.
- Real Betis recorded 32 victories.
- The remaining 32 clashes ended in draws.
- Real Betis last won a game in Bernabeu back in 2017
- Ferenc Puskás from Real Madrid is the leading goalscorer in this fixture.
- The last fixture saw Betis winning 2-1.
- Betis have drawn three of their last five visits to the Bernabeu.
- Only three of their last encounter produced more than two goals.
Form:
- Real Madrid in the league: D-W-L-W-W
- Real Madrid in all competitions: L-L-W-W-W
- Real Betis in the league: D-W-L-D-W
- Real Betis in all competitions: L-W-D-W-W
Team News:
- Real Madrid will miss Dani Carvajal, Alexander Arnold, Eder Militao and Mbappe is also out after picking knee injury. Brahim Diaz is out for AFCON 2025.
- Real Betis will miss Abde, Sofyan Amrabat, and Cedric Bakambu due to AFCON. Isco and Antony remain injured.
Player(s) to watch:
- Rodrygo has been at Santiago Bernabeu for more than seven years now. He has been a live wire with his overlapping and accelerated runs from the right flank. He previously played for Santos before making a move to Madrid in 2019. In 16 games, he has scored a goal and given an assist
- Pablo Fornals has played for Malaga, Villarreal and West Ham before finding his new home at Andalusia with Real Betis last season. He has been in sublime form so far, and in just 17 games, he has scored 4 goals and given 5 assists.