Real Madrid will be aiming to bounce back to winning ways when they take on Deportivo Alaves at the Santiago Bernabeu in La Liga this weekend.
After what has been a forgettable week, Real Madrid will be aiming to produce a strong reaction and get back on track when they lock horns with Deportivo Alaves on Matchday 25 of the 2021/22 La Liga on Saturday night.
February has been a difficult month for Real Madrid as they have won just one of their four games in all competitions. Los Blancos were eliminated from the Copa del Rey by Athletic Bilbao, were held to a goalless draw by Villarreal in La Liga and were then handed a 1-0 defeat by PSG in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League Round of 16 contest earlier this week.
Carlo Ancelotti has come under intense pressure following the midweek debacle, especially considering the manner in which the Merengues played. He will hope to spark a turnaround of fortunes and help the team extend their four-point lead at the top of the La Liga table. The game against a relegation-battling Deportivo Alaves provides the hosts with a great opportunity to arrest their slide.
Alaves find themselves in the 18th position in the standings, four points shy of Granada above them. After an eleven-game run without a win in the league, Jose Luis Mendilibar’s side defeated Valencia 2-1 in their most recent fixture. They will be keen on making the most of Real Madrid’s current situation and bag another positive result this weekend.
The reverse fixture saw Real Madrid beat Alaves 4-1 at the Mendizorrotza, with Karim Benzema starring with a brace.
Team News & Tactics
Real Madrid
Real Madrid, for a change, have a fully-fit squad at their disposal heading into this game and Carlo Ancelotti could make a few changes to keep his players fresh ahead of the business end of the season. Thibaut Courtois, who was one of the saving graces for Real Madrid in the defeat to PSG, is a certainty to feature between the sticks for the home team.
?✅ Our squad for #RealMadridAlavés! pic.twitter.com/lZIuyPixuG
— Real Madrid C.F. ???? (@realmadriden) February 18, 2022
The Belgian will be shielded by the centre-back pairing of Eder Militao and David Alaba. However, there could be changes in the full-back slots with Lucas Vazquez coming in for Dani Carvajal, who struggled in midweek, while Marcelo should replace Ferland Mendy, as he has recently returned from an injury.
Toni Kroos could be given a breather considering that he has featured week in week out for Los Blancos. The German international should be replaced by Federico Valverde, while Luka Modric, who was benched for the last league game, should start here. Casemiro will be retained at the base of the midfield, although Eduardo Camavinga is an option that Ancelotti can call upon.
Moving forward in attack, Karim Benzema is unlikely to start after he was rushed back for the midweek clash against PSG. The Frenchman could be called up in the later stages, but Luka Jovic is in line for a rare start in the centre-forward role. Out wide, Rodrygo Goes and Vinicius Junior should start against Alaves, with the former coming in for Marco Asensio. Gareth Bale and Eden Hazard will be options on the bench.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Courtois; Vazquez, Militao, Alaba, Marcelo; Modric, Casemiro, Valverde; Rodrygo, Jovic, Vinicius
Alaves
Alaves will have to continue without Ximo Navarro, who is back in training but is unlikely to be rushed back into action. At the same time, Victor Laguardia will also miss out due to suspension. Manager Jose Luis Mendilibar will be back on the touchline after serving out his two-match ban.
? Madrid#RealMadridAlavés #GoazenGlorioso ? pic.twitter.com/TtbzgynBNc
— Deportivo Alavés (@Alaves) February 18, 2022
The head coach, who replaced Javier Calleja at the turn of the year, is expected to set the visitors up in a 4-1-4-1 formation in front of goalkeeper Fernando Pacheco. He will be shielded by a backline comprising Nahuel Tenaglia, Matt Miazga, Florian Lejeune and Ruben Duarte, who will look to stay tight and compact at the back to deprive spaces for the Real Madrid forwards.
Tomas Pina will be the anointed defensive midfielder whose task will be to cut out the influence of Luka Modric. He will have support from Mamadou Loum, who will also make late forward runs into the box to add a goal threat when Alaves attack. Gonzalo Escalante should complete the midfield lineup for El Glorioso.
Jason and Luis Rioja will carry the threat from the wide areas for Alaves and look to trouble the Real Madrid full-backs, while former Real Madrid Castilla striker Joselu spearheads the attack.
Probable Lineup (4-1-4-1): Pacheco; Tenaglia, Miazga, Lejeune, Duarte; Pina; Jason, Escalante, Loum, Rioja; Joselu
Key Stats
- Real Madrid have won 14 of their last 16 meetings with Alaves in La Liga (L2). However, they did lose their previous home game against El Glorioso in the competition.
- With their win over Valencia last time out in La Liga, Alaves ended a run of 11 games without a win in the competition (D4 L7).
- Real Madrid have scored in 15 of their last 16 games against Alaves in La Liga (48 goals in total).
- Alaves striker Joselu has scored six goals in seven matches against Real Madrid in La Liga.
- Real Madrid star Karim Benzema has been directly involved in a goal in seven of his nine La Liga meetings with Alaves (eight goals, four assists).
Player to Watch
Karim Benzema
The Frenchman’s absence due to an injury over the past couple of weeks hurt Real Madrid, who lacked a focal point in attack without him on the pitch. Benzema made his much-awaited return in the crucial midweek clash against PSG but looked like he was not fully fit.
It has been since reported that there was an altercation between the superstar and Carlo Ancelotti, with the striker unhappy over the team’s tactics against PSG while the manager hit back at him for rushing his comeback. While it is likely that the veteran forward will be withdrawn from the starting XI against Alaves, all eyes will certainly be glued on him when he takes the field at some stage in the game.
With a run of crucial games coming up, it will be important for both Benzema and Real Madrid that he rediscovers his goalscoring form at the earliest.
Prediction
Real Madrid 2-1 Deportivo Alaves
Alaves brought an end to their 11-game winless run last time out with a win over Valencia, which will have done their confidence a world of good. At the same time, morale in the Real Madrid camp will be low following the midweek defeat to PSG. Nevertheless, the wounded Merengues will be intent on producing a strong reaction to the loss and will be motivated to put on a show for their supporters.
Even if Carlo Ancelotti decides to make changes to his preferred lineup, there should be enough quality on the pitch for Los Blancos to come out on top and clinch a crucial victory on Saturday.
