Courtois and Mbappe start | Predicted Real Madrid line-up against Real Betis | OneFootball

Real Madrid are up against Real Betis on matchday 26 of La Liga. After seeing off Real Sociedad in the Copa del Rey semi-final first leg at the Reale Arena, Los Merengues will look to pick up another win at one of Spain’s most difficult away venues, the Benito Villamarin. Carlo Ancelotti will try to orchestrate his side’s second win versus Los Verdiblancos this season and first away to them since August 2021.

To pick up all three points, the visitors will have to put their best foot forward especially in midfield as Dani Ceballos and Federico Valverde miss out owing to fitness worries, whereas Jude Bellingham is suspended. Dani Carvajal, Eder Militao and Jesus Vallejo are the other three injury casualties, although Kylian Mbappe and Thibaut Courtois return to the fore after sitting out of the midweek game.

With that said, here is how the team is likely to line-up:

Goalkeeper – Thibaut Courtois

Courtois will return in goal after a week’s rest, replacing Andriy Lunin in the process.

Right Back – Lucas Vazquez

After Raul Asencio was utilised as right back in the first half versus Sociedad, Vazquez is expected to return in the role this time around.

Centre Back – Raul Asencio

Asencio will return to his favoured position as the team’s right-sided central defender.

Centre Back – Antonio Rudiger

Rudiger and Asencio are become a solid defensive pairing, which is unlikely to be separated against Betis with the German international also expected to start in the back four.

Left Back – Ferland Mendy

Fran Garcia, who played in the Copa del Rey, might sit out with Mendy coming in.

Defensive Midfielder – Aurelien Tchouameni

Tchouameni will play as the defensive midfielder as he looks to continue his good form of late.

Right Midfielder – Luka Modric

Modric, the Man of the Match from last weekend’s win over Girona, is set to start in the engine room.

Left Midfielder – Eduardo Camavinga

Wholesale absentees in the Real Madrid midfield are set to see Camavinga get the nod in midfield as well.

Right Winger – Rodrygo Goes

Rodrygo will be back in the starting eleven after playing only a handful of the team’s minutes against Real Sociedad having come off the bench.

Striker – Kylian Mbappe

Mbappe scored his first couple of La Liga goals versus Betis and will look to add to his amazing tally thereafter during his first away clash against the Andalusians.

Left Winger – Vinicius Junior

Vinicius and Mbappe are indispensable in attack, so the Brazilian will feature in his preferred role and play closely with his French teammate with the duo key to Real Madrid possibly picking up all three points.