Real Madrid to face Real Betis without three key players

Real Madrid will be missing David Alaba, Ferland Mendy and Luka Modric for Sunday evening's La Liga clash with Real Betis in Seville.

Alaba and Mendy remain on the sidelines with hamstring problems, but the latter is said to be in the final stages of his recovery, potentially returning to the fold next week.

Modric, meanwhile, will serve a one-game suspension in the league due to the yellow card that he picked up in the 1-1 draw with Atletico Madrid in La Liga last weekend.

Alvaro Rodriguez came off the bench to score the leveller against Atletico, and the teenager is making the trip for this match despite the likes of Eden Hazard and Mariano Diaz also being available.

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Rodrygo made his return from a gluteal injury in Thursday's Copa del Rey semi-final first leg with Barcelona, featuring as a second-half substitute in what proved to be a 1-0 loss for Carlo Ancelotti's team.

The Brazil international will now hope to earn a starting role in this match, but Federico Valverde could ultimately get the nod on the right alongside Karim Benzema and Vinicius Junior in the final third.

Real Madrid are currently second in the La Liga table, seven points behind leaders Barcelona, while Real Betis occupy fifth, two points behind fourth-placed Atletico Madrid.

"No margin for error. They are very good, we must be perfect," Ancelotti said during his pre-match press conference when asked about the threat that Real Betis would provide.

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The Real Madrid head coach also suggested that he was open to starting Alvaro Rodriguez rather than introducing the 18-year-old as a substitute.

"Alvaro Rodriguez has quality to be more than just a substitute. If he deserves to play then he'll play, because I'm not looking at the age.

"He and Benzema could play together in a 4-4-2. They could be a good duo, especially because Benzema is used to moving around."

Real Madrid recorded a 2-1 victory over Real Betis in the reverse match earlier this season, while they have not lost to the Green and Whites in the league since March 2020.

Real Madrid squad vs. Real Betis:

Courtois, Lunin, Canizares; Carvajal, Militao, Vallejo, Nacho, Odriozola, Vazquez, Rudiger; Kroos, Camavinga, Valverde, Tchouameni, Ceballos; Hazard, Benzema, Asensio, Vinicius, Rodrygo, Mariano, Alvaro