Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti will make up to eight changes to his side when it faces Real Betis

Real Madrid can return to the top of La Liga when they face Real Betis away from home on Saturday evening.

Madrid’s productive run continued in the week as they won the first leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final at Real Sociedad. Endrick scored the game’s only goal as Carlo Ancelotti’s side took a big step towards the final.

Los Blancos have won four of their previous five in all competitions, but three consecutive La Liga draws before they beat Girona last weekend saw Barcelona sneak ahead of them at the summit.

Betis have won back-to-back games and typically trouble the Spanish behemoths when the pair collide. Manuel Pellegrini’s side have been emboldened by the arrival of Antony on loan, and they look poised for a deep run in the Conference League down the stretch.

Saturday’s hosts are also in fierce competition with Rayo Vallecano for sixth place which will see them qualify for next season’s Conference League – a safety net if they don’t win this year’s competition. They’re level on points with Rayo with 13 games remaining.

The hosts have Manchester United loanee Antony available this weekend after they successfully appealed the Brazilian’s red card from last week’s victory at Getafe. Antony has hit the ground running since arriving in Seville.

However, Betis are without former West Ham midfielder Pablo Fornals, as well as William Carvalho and Hector Bellerin. Giovani Lo Celso is a doubt with a muscle injury, while Marc Roca and Abde Ezzalzouli will be assessed closer to kick off to determined whether they can feature.

Real Betis predicted lineup vs Real Madrid (4-2-3-1): Adrian; Sabaly, Bartra, Llorente, Rodriguez; Cardoso, Altimira; Antony, Isco, J. Rodriguez; Hernandez.

Jude Bellingham serves the final game of his suspension this weekend after missing Madrid’s routine 2-0 win over Girona last week. The midfielder was sent off during a 1-1 draw with Osasuna, and Madrid were unsuccessful with their appeal.

Endrick was the match-winner in midweek but is unlikely to come into the team on Saturday, with Kylian Mbappe poised to function alongside Vinicius Junior. Brahim Diaz could also retain his place from last Sunday’s La Liga XI.

Dani Ceballos is out for a couple of months after sustaining a hamstring injury in the week. The Spaniard joins Eder Militao, Dani Carvajal, and Jesus Vallejo on the sidelines. Federico Valverde also misses out this weekend.

Real Madrid predicted lineup vs Real Betis (4-4-2): Courtois; Vazquez, Asencio, Rudiger, Mendy; Brahim, Camavinga, Modric, Rodrygo; Mbappe; Vinicius.