Antonio Rudiger will return to the Real Madrid starting lineup when they take on Real Betis at Estadio de la Cartuja on Friday.

Real Madrid will aim to build on the win over Deportivo Alaves earlier this season and attempt to end the 2025/26 season on a high when they lock horns with Real Betis at Estadio de la Cartuja on Friday night. Alvaro Arbeloa has new injury concerns to worry about ahead of his side’s latest fixture.

Eder Militao (hamstring) and Arda Guler (leg) are the latest absentees, with the duo unavailable to take on Real Betis on Friday. They have joined Thibaut Courtois (thigh) and Rodrygo (knee) in the treatment room/

However, Raul Asencio may be fit and available to take on Real Betis after recovering from an illness. Meanwhile, during his pre-match press conference, Arbeloa provided a fitness update on Militao. The Spanish tactician also discussed Dani Carvajal’s frustrations due to a lack of game time.

The Real Madrid head coach said, “We’re going to do an MRI now. From what we saw yesterday, it doesn’t seem serious, and it could just be a scare, but we’ll wait for the test results. In a little while, we’ll know exactly the extent of what he has. It doesn’t seem serious.”

Discussing Carvajal’s frustrations, Arbeloa said, “This is very simple. I can only play with eleven players. When I put one player in, it doesn’t mean I’m not happy with those who aren’t playing. There are many players with whom I’m being unfair.”

“My goal is to feel that I’m being unfair to those who don’t play because they are working well. Every time they play, they show me that they can help. There are many I’m being unfair to, and they deserve to play more than they are. But I can only play eleven and make five substitutions.”

Andriy Lunin will continue to deputise for Thibaut Courtois between the sticks, with Real Madrid lining up in a 4-4-2 formation in front of him against Real Betis on Friday. The backline will feature Trent Alexander-Arnold, Antonio Rudiger, Dean Huijsen, and Alvaro Carreras. So, Carvajal will miss out again, adding to his frustrations.

As for the midfield unit, Brahim Diaz should replace the stricken Guler. The Moroccan international will join Federico Valverde, Jude Bellingham, and Aurelien Tchouameni in the middle of the park. Finally, Vinicius Junior and Kylian Mbappe should be the two central attackers for the away side.

Predicted Real Madrid XI: Lunin; Alexander-Arnold, Rudiger, Huijsen, Carreras; Valverde, Bellingham, Tchouameni, Diaz; Vinicius Junior, Mbappe