Alonso urges Madrid to find solutions without Mbappe for Betis visit

Xabi Alonso called on Real Madrid to find a way to win without injured star Kylian Mbappe when Real Betis visit for Sunday’s LaLiga clash.

Mbappe is reportedly facing up to three weeks on the sidelines with a problematic knee injury, leaving Madrid without their talisman for Thursday’s Spanish Super Cup semi-final against Atletico Madrid.

Alonso’s side will first have to deal with Betis, aiming for a fourth straight league win to cut Barcelona’s four-point lead at the top-flight summit.

And the Madrid boss hopes his team can use their Club World Cup experience without Mbappe to find a solution once again.

“We have to find the best way to fit the pieces together. Kylian wasn’t at the Club World Cup, and we still performed well,” Alonso said on Saturday.

“But we’ll certainly miss him because his performance has been impressive, not only because of the goals but also because of his influence.

“Injuries are never welcome, but we have to have a lot of faith in those who will start tomorrow and those who will play on Thursday against Atletico.

“We are a squad; the unity and trust are mutual. Solidity and team spirit are fundamental.”

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— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadriden) January 3, 2026

Alonso could not provide a clear update on Mbappe’s return, with Trent Alexander-Arnold, Eder Militao and Dani Carvajal also out, though he acknowledged much of the pre-match discussion will surround the striker.

“We’ll keep pushing the timeline,” Alonso said when pressed on the Frenchman’s return. “It’s largely about how he feels, and we’re going to do everything possible to get him back as soon as possible.

“When will that be? That’s the question. I don’t know. I’ll give you a clearer answer at the next pre-match press conference.

“We assess each match and how the player feels, and then we make decisions based on the needs. We have to see how he progresses, and we’re going to do everything we can to get him back as soon as possible.”

Betis, meanwhile, ended 2025 with a 4-0 success over Getafe, making it three wins in their last four matches across all competitions.

They have only lost three times in La Liga this season, but seven draws have left them sixth in the top-flight standings, five points ahead of seventh-placed Celta Vigo and as many adrift from Espanyol in fifth.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Real Madrid – Rodrygo

Mbappe will have to wait to score his 50th goal for Real Madrid in LaLiga, having scored 49 in 52 appearances to date.

Rodrygo may step into his place, with Alonso speaking highly of the Brazilian in the build-up. He has scored twice across his last four matches in all competitions.

Real Betis – Cucho Hernandez

Cucho Hernandez has scored seven goals in 17 appearances this campaign, his joint-highest tally in a single LaLiga season.

He found the net in his last outing against Getafe, making it two goals in three league outings after also scoring past Barcelona.

MATCH PREDICTION – REAL MADRID WIN

Madrid have not lost their first LaLiga home match of the year on the last 41 occasions (W37 D4), winning the last 21 of those since a 1-0 defeat to Barcelona in 1944.

Betis, by contrast, have won their first game of the year in just one of their last seven attempts (D2 L4), leaving a home victory the most likely outcome here.

However, it is by no means a foregone conclusion given Madrid have won just two of their last eight home games against Betis (D4 L2), failing to score in six of those matches.

They lost their last meeting with Sunday’s visitors, 2-1 in March last year, but have not lost consecutive league outings against Betis since 1999.

Betis have also travelled well recently, losing just one of their last 15 away games in LaLiga (W6 D8), a 4-1 defeat against Atletico Madrid in May 2025.

The visitors are one of only three teams not to have suffered an away defeat in Europe’s top five leagues this season (W2 D6), alongside Bayern Munich (W6 D1) and AC Milan (W4 D3).

And although Madrid have dropped points in four of their last seven LaLiga games (W3 D3 L1), after winning 13 of their previous 14 in the competition, Alonso will still expect the win at home.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Real Madrid win – 61.1%

Draw – 20.1%

Real Betis win – 18.7%