Real Madrid vs Alaves possible line-ups, score predictions, head-to-head record

Preview

Real Madrid are fighting to keep on the toes of the La Liga pacesetters but they should take great confidence from their win over Inter Milan on Wednesday and are fancied to brush aside Alaves.

Los Blancos won 2-0 away to Inter in the Champions League, racking up 63 per cent possession and winning the shot count 14-5 at the San Siro, meaning they have won three of their last five contests in all competitions.

Alaves, meanwhile, have managed only two wins from their ten league assignments in 2020-21 and have looked short of ideas in the final third with only nine goals.

They have, however, held Barcelona, Levante and Valencia to draws in their last three games and can make life tough for Real. We predict a Real Madrid win in a game featuring under 3.5 goals. In terms of the scoreline, given that each of Alaves’s last two league defeats have been by two-goal margins, 2-0 could be the way to go.

Team news

Real Madrid
Sergio Ramos, Dani Carvajal, Eder Militao, Karim Benzema, Fede Valverde, Luka Jovic, and Alvaro Odriozola will all miss the match through injuries.

Key stats

Real Madrid has only lost twice against Alaves – in 2000 and in 2018.

What's really amazing is that the Whites haven't conceded a single goal in their last 5 home encounters with Alaves.

Probable line-ups

Real Madrid XI: Courtois; Nacho, Varane, Militao, Marcelo; Kroos, Casemiro; Isco; Asensio, Mariano, Hazard.

Alaves XI (via Sportsmole): Pacheco; Navarro, Lejeune, Laguardia, Duarte; Mendez, Pina, Battaglia, Jota; Perez, Joselu.

Predictions

SportsMole's Matt Law: Real Madrid 2-0 Alaves

"Madrid had a demanding fixture away to Inter on Wednesday night, meaning that Alaves will be the fresher of the two sides this weekend. Los Blancos will be determined to return to winning ways in the league, though, and we are expecting a comfortable home success for Zidane's side."

WhoScored's Josh Wright: Real Madrid 3-0 Alaves

"Real Madrid will be desperate to get all three points from this match after taking just one from their last two La Liga outings. With changes likely to be made in between the two Champions League fixtures, Zidane's side should be fresh and looking to prove a point.

"Alaves will have to take inspiration from their recent resilient performances if they are to get anything from this game, but that will be a big ask for the side currently 11 places below Madrid in the La Liga table."