Planning to attend Real Betis vs Real Madrid in Seville? Prepare your ticket purchase for this LaLiga football match at Estadio La Cartuja on 4 September 2026. Check team form, key players, recent head-to-head results, stadium atmosphere, public transport, parking and matchday arrival tips
Real Betis - Real Madrid: an early test for two teams with perfect records
Real Betis and Real Madrid meet on 4 September at 21:00 in the 4th round of LaLiga at Estadio La Cartuja in Sevilla, and the match comes very early in the season, at a time when both teams are still building a picture of how far they can go. As of 28 August, both have a maximum six points from two matches played. Real Madrid are top with a +4 goal difference, while Betis are third with a +2 goal difference. Before their head-to-head clash, both clubs still have one more league fixture, so the standings will change further before they arrive in Sevilla.
Betis opened the league campaign with a 1-0 victory over Real Sociedad at La Cartuja and then won by the same score away to Valencia. Real Madrid first defeated Espanyol 2-1 in Barcelona and then beat Real Sociedad 4-1 at the Bernabéu. That means the match in Sevilla currently brings together two teams that have not dropped a single point.
What the current form says about Betis
Manuel Pellegrini entered the new season with a team that, in its first two league matches, showed above all control and discipline. Betis did not concede against either Real Sociedad or Valencia, and both victories came in the second half of the match.
Against Real Sociedad, Rodrigo Riquelme made the difference in the 63rd minute after an assist from Cucho Hernández. Four days later at Mestalla, Pablo García finished the move in the 82nd minute after a cross from Fran García. Two different scorers and two late decisions describe the start of the season well: for now, Betis do not have to dominate the scoreline from the beginning in order to control the finish.
Ahead of the match with Real Madrid, it will be particularly important to monitor the fitness of Giovani Lo Celso and Abde Ezzalzouli. Both missed the away match against Valencia. Lo Celso worked on an individual programme because of muscular problems, while Abde had knee difficulties and was gradually returning to training. Their status for 4 September should not be assumed in advance - final availability will depend on how the situation develops during match week.
Betis's start to the league before the 3rd round
- Real Betis 1-0 Real Sociedad - scorer Riquelme.
- Valencia 0-1 Real Betis - scorer Pablo García.
- Six points from two matches.
- Two matches without conceding a goal.
Real Madrid arrive with Mbappé in early goalscoring form
Real Madrid have shown two different kinds of victory in two matches. Against Espanyol they had to wait until the closing stages: Jude Bellingham scored in the 9th minute, the hosts equalised before the break, and Carlos Espí made it 2-1 with a goal in the 90th minute. Against Real Sociedad, the team accelerated strongly after a 1-1 score at half-time and won 4-1.
Kylian Mbappé was the central figure in that victory. He scored three goals, in the 40th, 60th and 80th minutes, while Vini Jr. added a goal in the 68th minute. Bellingham recorded two assists, and Vini Jr. one. For Betis, that is a clear signal of the punishment that can result from only a few lost duels or a poorly positioned defensive transition.
However, the squad is not completely free of fitness problems. In training on 27 August, Aurélien Tchouaméni, Raúl Asencio, Ferland Mendy, Éder Militão, Rodrygo, Endrick and Thiago worked on their recovery programmes. That does not automatically mean they will all miss the Betis match, but it shows that Mourinho is still managing workloads and the return of several important players in the first month of the season.
Real Madrid's start to the league before the 3rd round
- Espanyol 1-2 Real Madrid - Bellingham and Carlos Espí.
- Real Madrid 4-1 Real Sociedad - three goals by Mbappé and one by Vini Jr.
- Six points from two matches.
- Six goals scored and two conceded.
Tactical battle: how Betis can slow Madrid down
The most important question for Pellegrini will be how high he wants to press. Real Madrid under Mourinho are already showing that they can quickly turn winning the ball into a vertical move. Valverde carries the ball forward from deep, Bellingham attacks the space behind the midfield line, while Mbappé and Vini Jr. punish a defence left without protection.
Betis therefore have to choose their moments. If too many players join the first wave of pressing, one precise pass towards Bellingham or a winger can open up a large space behind midfield. On the other hand, dropping completely back in front of their own penalty area means giving Güler, Bernardo Silva and Valverde plenty of time to switch the side of attack and look for Mbappé's runs between the centre-back and full-back.
One of the logical routes for Betis is to attack the space behind Madrid's full-backs. Antony and Riquelme can stretch the pitch, while Cucho Hernández can drop deeper to pull a centre-back out and open a run from the second line. If Isco is on the pitch, his first touch and turn under pressure could be important for playing out of the press.
Head-to-head meetings: La Cartuja has already seen a late Betis comeback
The most recent league meeting between these teams was played on 24 April 2026 at La Cartuja and ended 1-1. Vini Jr. gave Real Madrid the lead in the 17th minute, while Héctor Bellerín equalised in stoppage time after an assist from Lo Celso.
In the last five league meetings before this season, Real Madrid have two victories, Betis one, while two matches ended in draws. Particularly notable are Real Madrid's 5-1 win at the Bernabéu in January 2026 and Betis's 2-1 victory in Sevilla in March 2025. Those results show that this matchup has not been one-way traffic in recent seasons, especially when Betis are at home.
Last five league meetings
- Real Betis 1-1 Real Madrid - 24 April 2026.
- Real Madrid 5-1 Real Betis - 4 January 2026.
- Real Betis 2-1 Real Madrid - 1 March 2025.
- Real Madrid 2-0 Real Betis - 1 September 2024.
- Real Madrid 0-0 Real Betis - 25 May 2024.
Estadio La Cartuja: Betis's temporary home with a large capacity
Since the 2025/26 season, Real Betis have temporarily played their home matches at Estadio La Cartuja while work is being carried out at Benito Villamarín. The stadium is located in the northern part of Sevilla, in the Isla de la Cartuja area, and after its latest capacity increase it holds around 70,000 spectators. It opened in 1999 and was renovated in 2025.
For a supporter visiting for the first time, it is important to know that La Cartuja is not a stadium located in a dense urban neighbourhood with a network of streets immediately surrounding the stands. It is a large event complex on the island with a special traffic regime on matchdays. Arrival time should therefore be planned with a larger buffer than for an ordinary city stadium.
The city's mobility plan for Betis matches provides for the gates to open two hours before kick-off. For a match at 21:00, that means entry to the stands is generally planned from 19:00. The organisation can adjust details for each individual event, so it is sensible to check the latest instructions immediately before travelling.
Seats in the stands disappear quickly when an opponent of Real Madrid's calibre comes to Sevilla, while the fact that Betis have a very large season-ticket holder base creates additional demand. The club announced more than 55,000 renewed season tickets for the 2026/27 season. It is worth securing tickets in good time.
How to get to La Cartuja and what to know about parking
For visitors arriving from outside Sevilla, the simplest starting point is often the main railway station, Sevilla Santa Justa. Betis's mobility plan includes the C-2 suburban rail connection to the Estadio La Cartuja stop, while additional return services after the end of the match are also planned for evening fixtures.
Bus services are increased on matchdays, and the city's transport plan also provides special shuttle options after matches. Taxis and VTC vehicles have a special access regime for the La Cartuja area. Large parking areas are available for private cars, but access routes and restrictions depend on the specific event and traffic arrangements.
Practical arrival reminder
- Plan to arrive earlier because traffic towards Isla de la Cartuja is restricted and redirected on matchdays.
- According to the city's plan for Betis home matches, the gates open two hours before kick-off.
- The C-2 railway line connects Sevilla Santa Justa and the Estadio La Cartuja stop.
- For cars, use the designated parking areas and follow temporary traffic regulations on the approaches to the stadium.
- After evening matches, expect heavier congestion when leaving and controlled clearing of the surrounding stadium area.
Atmosphere: Betis supporters in a much larger space
The move from Benito Villamarín to La Cartuja has changed the physical setting of home matches, but not the number of supporters following Betis. More than 55,000 renewed season tickets mean that a large part of the stands has a permanent home support base, while the arrival of Real Madrid raises interest even further.
Ticket sales for this match are under way. Visitors travelling to Sevilla should also plan their post-match transport at the same time, because the end of a late kick-off can create the greatest pressure precisely at the exits from the stadium area.
Sevilla for supporters coming to the match
Sevilla is a large city in southern Spain, and La Cartuja is only one part of the wider urban area. For a traveller coming for football, it is practical to distinguish between two zones: the historic centre and the Isla de la Cartuja area. There are bridges and public transport between them, but on matchday traffic around the stadium operates under a special regime.
What to watch in the final week before the match
Because the article was prepared on 28 August, two important pieces of information are still unknown: the results of the 3rd round and the final fitness status of several players. Betis visit Levante on 29 August, while Real Madrid host Málaga on 30 August. Only after those matches will it be possible to speak more precisely about who comes to La Cartuja as the leading team and whether both sides will retain their perfect record.
For Betis, the returns of Lo Celso and Abde should be monitored, as well as the distribution of minutes between Cucho Hernández and Parrott. For Real Madrid, it will be important to see whether Mourinho rotates the team against Málaga after a demanding start to the season and whether any of the players who were in the recovery process on 27 August return to full training.
With that context, Betis - Real Madrid is not just an attractive early fixture in the calendar. It is a match in which it will become clearer for the first time how transferable the opening victories of both teams are to a clash against an opponent near the top of the table and how quickly Pellegrini and Mourinho have managed to stabilise their teams after the summer changes.
Sources:
- Real Betis Balompié - first-team schedule and results, victories against Real Sociedad and Valencia, information about La Cartuja and season tickets.
- Real Madrid - match reports against Espanyol and Real Sociedad, starting line-ups, schedule and training information ahead of Málaga.
- LaLiga - result and line-ups from the most recent league match between Betis and Real Madrid, as well as data from the Real Madrid - Real Sociedad match.
- FBref - overview of the most recent league head-to-head results between Betis and Real Madrid.
- Diario AS - current information about the recovery of Giovani Lo Celso and Abde and the Betis squad at the end of August.
- Ayuntamiento de Sevilla and Real Betis mobility plan - access to La Cartuja, public transport, parking and organisation of entry for Betis home matches.