In a highly anticipated La Liga clash, Real Madrid will host Alaves at the Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday night. The match marks a crucial point in the season for the home side, who aim to maintain pressure on league leaders Barcelona while looking to bounce back from a recent Champions League exit.
Match preview
Real Madrid enters this fixture determined to channel their disappointment from a narrow Champions League defeat against Bayern Munich, where they scored thrice but ultimately lost 4-3. As they shift focus back to La Liga, Carlo Ancelotti’s squad is fully motivated, boasting nearly a complete lineup. Kylian Mbappe, who leads the scoring race, is poised to play a pivotal role as Real looks to extend their dominance over Alaves, a team they have beaten in their last eight encounters.
On the other side, Alaves, under the management of Quique Sanchez Flores, has shown resilience, only losing once in five matches since his appointment. The Basque side recently pulled off a dramatic 3-3 draw against Real Sociedad and secured a 1-1 result against Villarreal. A recent break has also provided them with a much-needed physical boost ahead of this challenging encounter.
However, while Alaves has displayed emotional tenacity and effective finishing with 12 goals in five games, their impressive statistics may not tell the whole story. Playing away against a formidable opponent like Real Madrid could test their clinical abilities under pressure, a challenge they must navigate carefully to avoid errors.
Probable lineups
- Real Madrid: Lunin, Carreras, Rudiger, Militao, Alexander-Arnold, Tchouameni, Guler, Valverde, Bellingham, Junior, Mbappe.
- Alaves: Sivera, Castro, Tenaglia, Parada, Perez, Lekhedim, Ibanez, Blanco, Aldalur, Martinez, Boye.
Match facts and head-to-head
- Real have won their last eight matches against Alaves, not dropping points since November 2020.
- Both teams have scored in Real’s last six matches and in five of Alaves’ last six outings.
- Real played Bayern in the Champions League before this clash, while Alaves recently took points from Real Sociedad and Villarreal.