Real Madrid – Real Betis: La Fabrica Products Put Five Past Betis (5-1)

Real Madrid kick-started the new year with an emphatic win against Real Betis. Gonzalo Garcia proved his entitlement to replace Kylian Mbappé, netting a perfect hat-trick. Whilst offensive setpieces were Los Blancos' alternatives to finding the net, defensive transitions and relaxation during the winning game state made Xabi Alonso's side susceptible to breaking through their defense.

Tactical analysis and match report by Achraf Lamdarhri.

Before the end of 2025, Real Madrid experienced turmoil in terms of results, which left Xabi Alonso under scrutiny. The draws against Girona and Elche and the defeat against Celta Vigo handed La Liga's lead on a plate to the rivals, Barcelona, with a four-point difference. However, Real Madrid managed to see off the previous year with important wins against Alavés and Sevilla, providing a much-needed boost heading into the new year. In the buildup to Real Betis' game, neither Kylian Mbappé nor Dean Huijsen was available, as the former suffered a knee sprain, whilst the latter was ruled out due to a left thigh injury.

Real Betis landed in Madrid, passing through a superb form, characterized by a league-leading defensive record on the road. Sitting in sixth place, Manuel Pellegrini's side headed to the game as the only unbeaten team away from home, sporting a record of two wins and six draws. They closed out the year, coming out victorious three times in the last four matches across all competitions. Accumulating a high number of draws hindered their way to the top four; however, Betis was still hard to beat, having lost only three games all season before arriving at . . .