Real Madrid vs Real Betis: Perfect Start at Stake in La Liga

Real Madrid’s perfect start to the La Liga season faces its next examination on Friday night in Seville, where an unpredictable Real Betis side waits at the Benito Villamarín.

Three games, three wins, 10 goals scored, none conceded. Jose Mourinho’s team arrive with a swagger after dismantling Malaga 4-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu, a performance that underlined both their attacking depth and their control of games. Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappe and Arda Guler all found the net in that victory, keeping Madrid level on points with early leaders Barcelona and sharpening the sense that this title race may ignite early.

Betis, though, will be stung. They opened with back-to-back wins before being torn apart 5-2 by Levante on Saturday. That kind of defeat leaves a mark. It can also provoke a reaction, and Madrid know a noisy Villamarín is rarely a gentle backdrop for an away day.

Tchouameni and Endrick edging closer

The league leaders-in-waiting, at least on current form, have done all this without Aurelien Tchouameni kicking a ball this season. The French midfielder has been nursing a muscle problem, watching from the sidelines as others dictate the tempo. He is now closing in on a return and is listed as a minor doubt for Friday’s clash.

Mourinho, though, is not in the mood to gamble. With a long season ahead and Tchouameni central to Madrid’s structure, the coaching staff are wary of rushing him back for the sake of one fixture, however tricky the trip to Betis might be.

The same cautious optimism surrounds Endrick. The Brazilian teenager has yet to make a matchday squad this campaign after a muscular issue kept him out of the opening three games. There is a genuine chance he could feature in the travelling party for the first time this season. Even a place on the bench would feel like a small landmark in Madrid’s evolving attack.

Long-term absentees still shaping Mourinho’s options

Behind the positive headlines, the injury list still bites. Eder Militao has not played since suffering a hamstring injury against Alaves on April 21. The centre-back is making progress, but his return is not expected before the first international break. Until then, Mourinho must continue to lean on the existing defensive core, knowing Militao’s recovery cannot be rushed.

Rodrygo’s situation is even more severe. The Brazilian forward is out until the early stages of 2027 after a serious knee injury in March. That kind of layoff reshapes planning. It opens doors for others in the front line but strips Madrid of a proven match-winner for almost an entire era of this project.

Raul Asencio’s story is more complicated. The defender, linked with a possible summer move away, missed the start of the campaign with a quadricep problem. He has shaken that off, only to be hit by a separate issue in the same leg. There is now a real risk he will require surgery, which would mean another six to eight weeks of rehabilitation and delay any chance of him re-establishing himself in Mourinho’s plans.

Ferland Mendy’s outlook is harsher still. A thigh injury has effectively removed him from the first-team picture until the latter stages of 2026. For a squad chasing trophies on multiple fronts, the absence of an experienced left-back for such a long stretch forces tactical and transfer recalculations.

Thiago Pitarch is another long-term concern. The midfielder’s season was disrupted before it even began, picking up a knee injury at the start of his very first pre-season training session. He is now back working with the ball on the training pitch, a significant step, but there is still no clear timeline for his competitive return.

Clean disciplinary slate, rising expectations

If there is one area where Mourinho can breathe easily this week, it is discipline. Real Madrid have no suspensions to worry about for the trip to Betis, giving the coach maximum freedom to rotate around the injuries and manage workloads ahead of the looming international break.

The picture is clear. Madrid travel south unbeaten, unblemished in the league, and armed with a forward line already in rhythm. Betis, wounded by that 5-2 loss to Levante, will be desperate to drag them into a fight.

Perfect starts don’t last forever. The question now is whether this one survives a night under the Villamarín lights.