Real Madrid Faces Tough Test Against Real Betis in Seville
Real Madrid head to Seville on Friday night with their record spotless and their options anything but.
Three games, three wins, 10 goals scored, none conceded. Malaga were swept aside 4-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday, with Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappe and Arda Guler all on the scoresheet as Jose Mourinho’s side underlined their early-season authority. Yet they still trail Barcelona on goal difference, a detail that will not sit comfortably for long in Chamartín.
Now comes a different kind of test: a wounded Real Betis at the Benito Villamarín, fresh from a chaotic 5-2 defeat to Levante after opening the campaign with two victories. The atmosphere will be fierce. The margins, tighter. And Mourinho’s team sheet will again be shaped by a medical bulletin that refuses to shrink.
Tchouameni edging back, but Mourinho won’t gamble
The biggest question surrounds Aurelien Tchouameni. The midfielder has not played a single minute this season because of a muscle problem, but his recovery has gathered pace in recent days.
He is listed as a minor doubt with a possible return pencilled in for the Betis clash on September 4. The temptation to drop him straight into a hostile away game is obvious. Mourinho’s stance is just as clear: no risks. With a long campaign ahead, the Frenchman will only feature if the medical staff are fully convinced he can handle the intensity.
Endrick close to first taste of La Liga
There is also a quiet buzz around Endrick. The Brazilian has been kept out of the opening three league fixtures by a muscular issue, but he is now closing in on involvement.
He, too, is marked down as a minor doubt with the same possible return date. For the first time this season, there is a realistic chance he makes a matchday squad. Even a brief cameo in Seville would mark an important first step in his Real Madrid career.
Militao’s long road back continues
At the back, Eder Militao remains unavailable. The defender has been sidelined since suffering a hamstring injury against Alaves on April 21 and is still working his way through a carefully managed recovery.
Progress has been steady, but expectations are being kept in check. He is not expected to return before the first international break of the season, leaving Mourinho to lean again on his remaining centre-back options for one of La Liga’s more awkward away days.
Rodrygo ruled out until 2027
The outlook is far more severe for Rodrygo. The forward is facing an extended spell out after sustaining a serious knee injury in March.
The club do not expect him back until the early stages of 2027, a brutal timeline that removes one of Madrid’s most versatile attacking weapons from Mourinho’s plans for the foreseeable future.
Asencio’s setback raises surgery fears
Defender Raul Asencio has endured a stop-start period that has now stalled again. Initially tipped for a possible summer exit, he missed the beginning of the campaign with a quadricep problem, recovered, and then suffered a separate issue in the same leg.
The new injury has raised the prospect of surgery, which would rule him out for a further six to eight weeks. For a player already fighting for his place, the timing could hardly be worse.
Mendy out until late 2026
On the left side of defence, Ferland Mendy is a long-term absentee. A thigh injury has removed him from the first-team picture entirely, with his return not expected until the latter stages of 2026.
It leaves Madrid planning the medium term without a player who, when fit, offers balance and defensive security down that flank.
Pitarch back on the grass, but no date set
Thiago Pitarch’s Real Madrid story barely had time to begin before it stalled. The midfielder injured his knee in the opening session of pre-season and has been sidelined since.
He is now back on the training pitch and working with the ball again, an important psychological step. Yet there is still no clear indication of when he will be ready for competitive action.
Clean on cards, crowded in treatment room
One area where Mourinho has no concerns is discipline. Real Madrid travel to Betis with a clean suspension slate; no player is banned for Friday’s fixture.
So the equation is simple: a perfect record to protect, a title rival already matching them stride for stride, and a demanding trip to Seville with key pieces still missing. Can this patched-together Madrid keep winning while they wait for their heavy artillery to fully return?
