Real Betis shipped five goals at Levante on 29 August. Real Madrid have scored ten and conceded two in three matches under José Mourinho. They meet at La Cartuja on Friday 4 September 2026, and the only real question is whether Betis can defend their box for 90 minutes, because nothing about last weekend suggests they can.
Teams Forms
Betis started really well. They beat Real Sociedad 1-0 on 21 August and won 1-0 at Valencia on 25 August, two clean sheets and six points from a squad Manuel Pellegrini has been quietly assembling for years. Then Levante happened.
The 5-2 defeat at the Ciutat de València was a collapse, not an off day. Adrián de la Fuente put Levante ahead on 24 minutes, Marc Bartra levelled ten minutes later, Enzo Bardeli restored the lead in first-half stoppage time, and Rodrigo Riquelme made it 2-2 four minutes into added time. Then Levante scored three more after the break. Against a side that had not scored a league goal all season before kick-off.
Real Madrid are on nine points from three and second only on goal difference. Mourinho’s side won 2-1 at Espanyol, beat Real Sociedad 4-1 at the Bernabéu on 26 August and put four past Málaga without reply on 30 August. Ten goals, two conceded, three wins. Whatever anyone thinks of the appointment, the results are not the argument. Seems like José Mourinho is doing a great job so far with the team.
The stake here is the top of the table. Barcelona also has nine points, and they play at Mestalla on Sunday. Madrid cannot afford to blink first.
🤜🤛 Real Betis on IG. pic.twitter.com/ue0dCIwDUX
— Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) September 4, 2026
Another interesting fact is that Betis now has four players from Real Madrid. Dani Ceballos has terminated his contract with Real and signed for the Sevillan side. Fran Garcia has also completed his move to Betis, and he seems set to start tonight against his former club.
Betis vs Real Madrid Predicted line-ups
Real Betis: Pellegrini has to decide whether to react to Levante or trust the two clean sheets that came before it. Isco between the lines and Antony wide right are the creative core. Fran García and Bellerín as full-backs is a lot of attacking intent against this Madrid front line, and Pellegrini may want more protection.
Betis predicted line-up (4-2-3-1): Valles – Bellerin, Llorente, Natan, Garcia – Bernal, Roca – Antony, Fornals, Riquelme – Hernandez
Real Madrid: Mourinho had been mixing up the squad a bit due to the returning players from the World Cup. Courtois behind a back four of Dumfries, Konaté, Huijsen and Cucurella; Bernardo Silva and Valverde in midfield; Güler, Bellingham and Vinícius Júnior behind Mbappé. Mourinho hasn’t needed to rotate much yet, though the Champions League starts next week and that could change things.
Real Madrid predicted line-up (4-2-3-1): Courtois – Cucurella, Huijsen, Konaté, Dumfries – Valverde, Bernardo – Vinícius, Bellingham, Güler – Mbappé
The key battle
Vinícius Júnior against Héctor Bellerín. Bellerín is 31 and pushes high, and Betis’s shape at Levante left enormous gaps behind their full-backs. Vinícius lives in exactly that space. If Pellegrini leaves Bellerín isolated, this is over inside an hour.
The counter-argument is Isco. Madrid’s midfield of Bernardo Silva and Valverde is press-resistant but not a natural screen, and Isco can still find the seam in front of a back four. Betis’s route back into this game runs through him.
Betis vs Real Madrid Predictions & tips
Betis have a genuinely good home record against Real Madrid — unbeaten in their last four meetings in front of their own supporters, including a 1-1 draw in April 2026 that Bellerín rescued in stoppage time. La Cartuja will be full and loud.
None of that survives contact with a defence that conceded five to Levante. Madrid have scored four in each of their last two matches and have the best attacking line in the division, playing with full confidence. Betis will score. They will also concede three.
Tip: Real Madrid win + over 3.5 goals. Predicted score: Real Betis 1-3 Real Madrid.
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