Real Madrid squad vs Betis: Arbeloa leaves out Ceballos, Tchouameni also misses trip

The Real Madrid squad vs Betis is out, and the biggest talking point is not who made the trip to Seville but who did not. Álvaro Arbeloa has left Dani Ceballos out of the matchday squad by technical decision, while Aurélien Tchouaméni also misses the game after picking up a hamstring overload ahead of Friday night’s clash at La Cartuja.

That instantly gives this squad announcement more weight than a routine pre-match update. Madrid are heading into one of their final six league games while trailing Barcelona by nine points, and Arbeloa said before the match that his team’s objective has to be winning all six remaining fixtures. In that context, every selection decision feels sharper, and every absence matters more.

Real Madrid squad vs Betis brings two major absences

The official squad released by the club includes Lunin, Mestre, and Javi Navarro in goal; Carvajal, Alaba, Trent, Asencio, Álvaro Carreras, Fran García, Rüdiger, Mendy, Huijsen, and Diego Aguado in defense; Bellingham, Camavinga, Valverde, Thiago, Cestero, and Manuel Ángel in midfield; and Vini Jr., Mbappé, Gonzalo, Brahim, and Mastantuono in attack.

On its own, that is already a group with a very different feel from Madrid’s strongest available pool. The same-day reporting around the squad call makes clear why. Mundo Deportivo says Tchouaméni dropped out late because of hamstring overload, while Ceballos was omitted by technical decision. The same report also notes that Raúl Asencio is back after recovering from stomach issues, which softens one problem for Arbeloa while creating fresh questions elsewhere.

The academy angle matters too. Mundo Deportivo reports that Arbeloa called up six academy players for this match: goalkeepers Sergio Mestre and Javi Navarro, plus Thiago Pitarch, Diego Aguado, Manuel Ángel, and Jorge Cestero. That does not automatically mean all of them will play, but it does show how much the coaching staff is leaning on younger depth at a delicate point in the season.

Why the Ceballos decision stands out

The Ceballos omission is the line that will drive most of the reaction. Real Madrid did not list him in the official squad, and Mundo Deportivo’s reporting describes the call as a technical decision rather than an injury-related absence. That wording matters because it shifts the conversation away from fitness and toward selection hierarchy.

It is also the kind of move that invites scrutiny because Madrid are not exactly overloaded with midfield options right now. Once Tchouaméni drops out, the remaining senior midfield core in the official list is essentially Jude Bellingham, Eduardo Camavinga, and Federico Valverde, with the rest of the depth coming from younger players. That makes the Ceballos call harder to ignore, even if Arbeloa has not publicly expanded on it. The conclusion that this increases the pressure on the remaining midfielders is an inference from the official squad composition.

What Tchouaméni’s absence changes for Madrid

Tchouaméni missing out may prove just as important once the match starts. Madrid already lost Arda Güler and Éder Militão for the rest of the season to hamstring injuries, according to Reuters, and another fitness issue this late in the campaign only adds to the sense that Arbeloa is managing a stretched squad.

From a football standpoint, his absence could change the balance of the team more than the headline suggests. Tchouaméni gives Madrid control, coverage, and a bit of calm when games get messy. Without him, the burden on Camavinga and Valverde becomes heavier, especially in an away game Arbeloa himself described as one of “maximum demand.” That reading is based on the squad list and Arbeloa’s pre-match comments rather than a confirmed tactical plan from the club.

Why this matters beyond one match

Real Madrid’s own preview framed this Betis game as the first of three straight away matches in La Liga. That alone made the fixture significant, but the squad news raises the stakes further because it says something about where the team stands physically and competitively at the end of April. Madrid beat Alavés three days earlier, yet they are still in a position where the margin for error is tiny.

There is also a broader message in Arbeloa’s choices. He said on Thursday that Madrid should be focused only on the next match and on maintaining a high level over the final six games. Leaving out a senior midfielder by choice while trusting academy players in the squad fits that harder-edged message. It suggests that, for now, the staff are prioritizing form, fit, and availability over reputation. That is an interpretation of the squad call and Arbeloa’s remarks, not an official explanation from the club.

What this means for Real Madrid

The immediate takeaway is simple: Madrid still have enough star power to win in Seville, but the path looks thinner than usual. Mbappé, Vinicius, Bellingham, Valverde, and Camavinga still give Arbeloa a strong spine, and Asencio’s return helps stabilize the defense. But the omissions of Tchouaméni and Ceballos leave less room for midfield error in a match that was already likely to be demanding.

It also opens up bigger storylines that will matter beyond Betis: how Arbeloa handles the midfield balance in the run-in, whether the academy players can offer trusted minutes, and which selection calls are signs of a short-term fix versus a longer-term message. Those are exactly the kinds of questions that will keep shaping Real Madrid coverage over the next few days as the final stretch of the season comes into focus.

The Real Madrid squad vs Betis is not just a list of names. It is a snapshot of a team still fighting, still stretched, and still making tough calls with the season on the line. Friday night will decide the result, but this squad announcement has already told fans plenty about where Madrid are right now.
Real Madrid (https://www.realmadrid.com/en-US/news/football/first-team/squad-call/convocatoria-del-real-madrid-ante-el-betis-24-04-2026)

Sources Used:

Real Madrid (https://www.realmadrid.com/es-ES/noticias/futbol/primer-equipo/ruedas-de-prensa/arbeloa-23-04-2026)

Real Madrid (https://www.realmadrid.com/en-US/news/football/first-team/fixtures/betis-real-madrid-primera-de-las-tres-salidas-consecutivas-en-liga-24-04-2026)

Mundo Deportivo (https://www.mundodeportivo.com/futbol/real-madrid/20260424/1004174666/convocatoria-real-madrid-betis-lesionado-sopresa-decision-tecnica.html)

Reuters (https://www.reuters.com/sports/soccer/militao-guler-sidelined-season-with-hamstring-injuries-2026-04-23/)