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2025-26 Spanish La Liga
Matchday 18
Real Madrid v Real Betis
Estadio Santiago Bernabeu
Madrid, Spain
Sunday, 4 January 2026
Kick-off is at 18h30
Real Madrid will attempt to establish the Bernabeu as a fortress once more when they play host to Real Betis on Sunday, January 4.
Los Blancos had been formidable on home soil in La Liga prior to the visit of Celta Vigo on December 7, winning all six games in their own backyard and conceding just three goals.
But Xabi Alonso's side failed to score for the first time in front of their home fans this season as the Sky Blues ran out 2-0 victors which further dented Real's title hopes after they drew three successive games on the road.
The record 36-time Spanish champions won their final two fixtures of 2025 against Alaves (2-1 away) and Sevilla (2-0 at home) to stay within four points of league leaders Barcelona going into the second half of the campaign.
Los Verdiblancos also finished the year on a high after they routed Getafe 4-0 on December 21, having picked up just one point from their previous two outings that month.
Manuel Pellegrini's side had enjoyed a strong November which saw them go unbeaten in four matches and collect eight points out of a possible 12.
Betis, who beat the Madrid giants 2-1 in their most recent meeting at La Cartuja on March 1, occupy the final European berth with a five-point cushion to Celta (7th).
Alonso is hoping that his injury crisis eases up in the new year after being without Eder Militao, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dani Carvajal and Federico Valverde for the clash with the Palanganas.
"The priority was to win, although there are things that didn't go as we expected and others that went a little better," he said.
"We have the three points and after winning in Vitoria and today, the situation allows us to face 2026 in a position to fight for everything, and now we want to accompany that with the improvement we want to make.
"It was a match we had to win because we were in a difficult situation with the injuries we had. We know we can do better and we want to do better. We've got the three points and we want to try to start the year better.
"I'd like to be able to start getting people back and have more players available so we don't have to play on the limit. I'm ready for whatever comes."
Head-to-Head (Last Five La Liga Meetings)
Matches - 5
Real Madrid wins - 1
Real Betis wins - 1
Draws - 3
La Liga Matchday 18 fixtures:
Friday, January 2
21h00: Rayo Vallecano v Getafe
Saturday, January 3
14h00: Celta Vigo v Valencia
16h15: Osasuna v Athletic Bilbao
18h30: Elche v Villarreal
21h00: Espanyol v Barcelona
Sunday, January 4
14h00: Sevilla v Levante
16h15: Real Madrid v Real Betis
18h30: Alaves v Real Oviedo
18h30: Real Mallorca v Girona
21h00: Real Sociedad v Atletico Madrid
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