Here is Real Madrid's injury list: Mariano, Bale, Asensio, Kroos, Llorente, Courtois... LaLiga Santander Most should return by end of January

Since 31 December, Real Madrid have had five players become injured as they joined Marco Asensio in the treatment room, leaving coach Santiago Solari with limited options ahead of the game against Real Betis on Sunday, especially given the suspension to Lucas Vazquez and the potential absence of Vinicius Junior, who missed Friday's training due to flu.

Gareth Bale

The Welshman suffered a grade I injury in the soleus of his left leg against Villarreal and should be out for two weeks, but Bale has been so prone to injuries that it is difficult to predict when he will return; the goal is to return for the Sevilla game at the earliest.

Games definitely out: Betis and Leganes.

Asensio

Having picked up a grade II injury in the right rectus femoris muscle during the semi-final of the Club World Cup, Asensio was expected to miss three weeks but three weeks have passed and he has still not returned to training; he is not expected to return until the last week of January, or first week of February, as they do not want to take any risks with him.

Games definitely out: Betis, Leganes and Sevilla.

Toni Kroos

The penultimate victim of the six injured players is Kroos, who suffered his first muscular injury at Madrid when he had a grade II break in the left adductor; the first diagnosis predicted that he would miss three weeks, so considering it occurred after the Real Sociedad game, he should be back by the end of January.

Games definitely out: Betis, Leganes, Sevilla, first leg of the Copa del Rey quarter-final (if Madrid qualify) and Espanyol.

Marcos Llorente

He began the year with the first muscular injury of his career, a grade II injury in the left adductor which would see him miss approximately three weeks; as an exemplary player when it comes to preparation, Llorente is expected to fulfil - or even beat - these predictions, but the club must be careful; he could return against Sevilla, depending on his evolution when he returns to training.

Games definitely out: Betis and Leganes.

Thibaut Courtois

The most recent injury at the club is that of Courtois, who is out for between 10 and 14 days with a grade I injury in the left iliacus muscle; fortunately for the Belgian, his injury coincides with two games that he would have missed through rotation anyway - the two Copa del Rey matches against Leganes.

Games definitely out: Betis and Leganes.

Mariano

Having aggravated a sciatic nerve irritation on 31 December, Mariano's return is based on his evolution in training; there is no way to predict a definitive return for such a delicate area.

He is being examined day-to-day and he is starting to feature in Madrid's training sessions, albeit only partially.

Game definitely out: Betis.