Xabi Alonso addressed the media on Saturday ahead of Sunday’s La Liga clash against Real Betis, set to take place at Santiago Bernabéu. Notably, Kylian Mbappé has been confirmed as unavailable for the match, as reported by Madrid Universal.
As La Liga resumes, Real Madrid is looking to kick off 2026 positively against a Betis side that is also facing several challenges. Both teams come into this Jornada 18 meeting with significant gaps due to the absence of key players.
For Madrid, the absence of Mbappé limits the attacking threat, leading Alonso to likely position Gonzalo García at the forefront of their attack. The squad is further hindered by injuries to Trent Alexander-Arnold, Éder Militão, and Dani Carvajal, along with Brahim Díaz, who is currently representing his national team in the Africa Cup of Nations.
Real Madrid aims to close the gap on S.C. Barcelona, who currently lead the standings with 49 points, making victory imperative for the team against Betis. On the other hand, Real Betis is positioned sixth in the league and hopes to solidify their place in the UEFA Conference League while aiming to climb higher in the table. They are also dealing with key absences, including Abde Ezzalzouli, Cédric Bakambu, and Sofyan Amrabat, who are also involved in the Africa Cup. However, the return of Antony strengthens their forward line alongside Cucho Hernández.
The match details are as follows:
– **Date**: Sunday, January 4
– **Time**: 9:15 AM CDMX / 10:15 AM ET
– **Venue**: Santiago Bernabéu Stadium
Projected lineups for the match are:
**Real Madrid**: Thibaut Courtois, Federico Valverde, Antonio Rüdiger, Aurelien Tchouameni, Álvaro Carreras, Eduardo Camavinga, Arda Güler, Jude Bellingham, Vinícius Júnior, Rodrygo, and Gonzalo García.
**Real Betis**: Álvaro Valles, Héctor Bellerín, Natan, Marc Bartra, Valentín Gómez, Marc Roca, Nelson Deossa, Pablo Fornals, Aitor Ruibal, Antony, and Cucho Hernández.
With both teams eager for points, fans can anticipate a competitive match that will shape the trajectory of their respective seasons.