Arbeloa Excludes Dani Ceballos from Real Madrid Squad for Betis Clash

Real Madrid head coach Álvaro Arbeloa has omitted former Real Betis midfielder Dani Ceballos from the squad for Friday’s La Liga match against Real Betis at Estadio de la Cartuja in Seville. The decision comes despite injuries to Arda Guler and Aurelien Tchouameni that have depleted Madrid’s midfield options.

According to reports from Spanish media outlet Cadena COPE, journalist Miguel Ángel Díaz confirmed that Ceballos’ exclusion was a technical decision by Arbeloa, unaffected by the absences of Guler and Tchouameni. The Andalusian-born midfielder, who previously played for Betis before joining Real Madrid, will not be available for selection in the upcoming fixture.

The match, scheduled for 21:00 CEST (19:00 UTC) on Friday, April 24, 2026, represents the first of three consecutive away games for Real Madrid in the final stretch of the La Liga season. Madrid currently sits second in the league table, looking to close the gap on league leaders Barcelona.

Real Betis, under manager Manuel Pellegrini, enters the match after extending their unbeaten run to three games with a recent victory over Girona. The Andalusian side holds fifth position in the standings with 49 points, having recorded 12 wins, 13 draws, and 7 losses this season.

Arbeloa emphasized the challenge posed by Betis during his pre-match press conference, stating that the encounter would be “of the highest demands” as Madrid seeks to secure their 24th victory of the campaign. Kylian Mbappé, Madrid’s top scorer with 24 goals, aims to continue his recent scoring form after finding the net in the team’s last two matches.

Despite Ceballos’ absence, Madrid will look to capitalize on their recent return to winning ways following a 2-1 victory over relegation-threatened Alavés. The team faces a difficult test against a Betis side that has been strong at home, recording four draws and three victories in their last seven matches at Estadio de la Cartuja.

The fixture presents an opportunity for Madrid to reduce the deficit to Barcelona to six points, at least temporarily, whereas putting pressure on their title rivals. But, the quick turnaround after Tuesday’s match presents additional challenges for squad management and player fitness.

Real Madrid have not won away at Betis in their three most recent visits to Seville, last securing all three points in 2021. The head-to-head record shows Madrid winning four of their last ten meetings against Betis, including a 5-1 victory in the reverse fixture earlier this season.

As Madrid prepares for this crucial La Liga encounter, the focus remains on how Arbeloa will manage his available resources to navigate what he described as a “match of the highest demands” against a determined Betis side aiming to secure a European qualification spot.

Stay tuned for updates on Real Madrid’s performance as they look to continue their push for the La Liga title in the season’s final stretch.