Real Madrid continue their pursuit of Barcelona and start the new year at the Santiago Bernabéu against one of the league’s most awkward visitors.
Prediction: 2-0
This matchup points toward a controlled home victory. Even without their main scorer, Real Madrid’s overall quality and defensive stability should be enough to overcome Betis.
Real Madrid Strong at Home Despite Key Absence
Real Madrid ended 2025 on a positive note with a 2-0 home win over Sevilla and remain four points behind Barcelona in the title race. Their home record is solid, with seven wins and just one defeat, the latter coming unexpectedly against Celta. The main concern ahead of this match is the absence of Kylian Mbappé due to injury. This places greater responsibility on players like Vinícius Júnior and Rodrygo, who will be expected to step up and provide the attacking edge.
Betis Unbeaten Away but Often Settling for Draws
Real Betis arrive in sixth place and have built a reputation as one of the league’s most uncomfortable opponents. They are still unbeaten away from home this season, but this statistic is heavily influenced by the number of draws, with six of their eight away matches ending level. Betis have shown in recent years that they can take points at the Bernabéu, which means they cannot be underestimated, but turning draws into wins remains an issue.
