Real Betis hosts Real Madrid on Friday night at La Cartuja, with kick-off scheduled for 21:00 CEST. Los Verdiblancos aim to secure their hold on fifth place, while Alvaro Arbeloa’s side seeks to narrow the title gap to Barcelona to six points. Betis currently enjoys a five-point cushion over Celta Vigo and Getafe.

In a late setback for Madrid, Aurelien Tchouameni withdrew from the squad due to muscle discomfort. Additionally, Dani Ceballos is absent not due to fitness issues but rather a technical decision, signaling a clear message from Arbeloa. Key players Thibaut Courtois, Rodrygo Goes, Eder Militao, and Arda Guler remain back in Madrid, although Raul Asencio returns just in time.

On the injury front for Betis, Junior Firpo and Angel Ortiz are sidelined, while Diego Llorente and Cucho Hernandez have been cleared to play.

A major topic in Arbeloa’s pre-match conference was the absence of Dani Carvajal from the starting lineup. While Diario AS predicts Carvajal will start, MD suggests Trent Alexander-Arnold will continue in defense. Without Tchouameni, a new midfield configuration is anticipated, likely featuring Brahim Diaz, Fede Valverde, and Jude Bellingham behind Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior.

In addition, Antonio Rudiger and Dean Huijsen will anchor the central defense due to Militao's injury, with a decision pending on whether Alvaro Carreras or Fran Garcia will occupy the left side.

For Betis, a recent victory against Girona marked a much-needed turnaround, ending a two-month winless streak, partly thanks to the return of Isco after a lengthy absence. While he may not start, Isco could be a valuable asset off the bench. Anticipated starters for Betis include Antony, Ez Abde, and Hernandez up front, with Sofyan Amrabat and Pablo Fornals in midfield.