Carlo Ancelotti will aim to keep up with Girona at the top of the table when Real Madrid visit a struggling Alaves before the winter break.
Luis Garcia will want a response from Alaves when they host Real Madrid after Girona compounded a difficult period for them. The Basque outfit suffered a 3-0 loss to the league leaders, a game the manager described as the worst of the season.
Indeed, their performances have dwindled over the last few weeks as Garcia still cannot find a way to secure their first win of this month. With Real Madrid visiting Mendizorroza, there are chances Alaves will end December winless in the league and remain in the mix for a crunch relegation battle.
Only three points separate Alaves from 18th-placed Celta Vigo. An unexpected scalp of the capital giants would likely bring some confidence back into the side and give them a healthy lead from the bottom three. Still, their abysmal record for years against Real Madrid could extend after this clash on Thursday night.
Sitting on top of the league table during Christmas always has its meaning in any of the top five leagues in the continent. Real Madrid are not far off as they remained second after the latest matchday and two points adrift of Girona. A smashing win over Villarreal kept them in charge of their chase and secured Ancelotti the revenge he sought against the Yellow Submarines.
Jude Bellingham, Rodrygo, Brahim Diaz and Luka Modric scored in that 4-1 win at the Bernabeu that took them temporarily to the top. Girona’s win brought them back into second, but Ancelotti will want no complaints when his side visit Alaves.
A win would let Real Madrid keep up with Girona, assuming the leaders win their tricky trip to Real Betis. Ancelotti would like to sit at the summit around the winter break period but would remain content with second place for now, which requires a statement win over Alaves on Thursday night.
Team News & Tactics
Deportivo Alaves
Luis Garcia will again be without Aleksandar Sedlar and Giuliano Simeone, who are dealing with long-term problems. After the loss to Girona, the manager will look to make tweaks and changes to his side.
Defender Nahuel Tenaglia could drop down to the bench in favour of Abdel Abqar, who returns after serving a suspension. With the latter, Garcia could change his system to a back four instead of three defenders, and Andoni Gorosabel is likely to stick around in the right-back role.
Javi Lopez and Ruben Duarte will compete in the backline, while former Real Madrid prospect Antonio Blanco will retain his midfield berth alongside Jon Guridi and Ianis Hagi. Up front, 34-year-old Kike Garcia could come in to lead the line for Alaves against Real Madrid in place of 19-year-old Samu Omorodion. Alex Sola will start on the right side of the front three, while Luis Rioja operates on the left-hand side of the attack.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Sivera; Gorosable, Abqar, Duarte, Lopez; Hagi, Blanco, Guridi; Sola, Garcia, Rioja
Real Madrid
Carlo Ancelotti bemoaned the latest injury problem with his side as he lost David Alaba for the remainder of the season. The Austrian defender suffered an ACL tear, becoming the third Real Madrid player to experience the same problem after Thibaut Courtois and Eder Militao.
Nacho remains the best option for Ancelotti to replace Alaba in the side, while Fran Garcia will keep his left-back slot for now. Antonio Rudiger and Lucas Vazquez will complete the back four, with Kepa Arrizabalaga set to return in place of Andriy Lunin.
Garcia’s inclusion comes amid Ferland Mendy’s thigh problem, which he has failed to shake off. Ancelotti will continue to deploy a midfield double pivot of Toni Kroos and Federico Valverde as the squad continues to miss the likes of Eduardo Camavinga. Aurelien Tchouameni remains available, but the manager will keep him on the bench for now.
Luka Modric and Jude Bellingham will operate slightly advanced positions coming from the wide areas of midfield, with Kroos and Valverde settled behind them. Brahim Diaz operated well in that forward role alongside Rodrygo Goes, something Ancelotti will likely continue ahead of the Alaves game.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Kepa; Vazquez, Rudiger, Nacho, Garcia; Modric, Valverde, Kroos, Bellingham; Diaz, Rodrygo
Key Stats
- Alaves have picked up 13 of their 16 points at home in La Liga this season.
- Alaves have suffered 28 defeats against Real Madrid, the most against a single opponent in their La Liga history.
- Alvaves conceded 92 goals against Real Madrid, the most in their top-flight history.
- Real Madrid have won 15 of their last 17 matches against Deportivo Alaves in all competitions.
- Real Madrid have scored at least two goals in 15 of their last 17 matches against Deportivo Alaves in all competitions.
Player to Watch
Nacho
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The ultimate utility man for Real Madrid has seen another door open for him after the severe knee injury suffered by David Alaba. Carlo Ancelotti will once again place his trust, albeit for one game before Real Madrid break away for the winter.
The defender must produce a good performance and roll back the times when he came through in essential games as a replacement for one of their key defenders. While Real Madrid may go out in the market and replace Alaba, Nacho would still show he can do it at the top level and with this team to resounding success.
Prediction
Alaves 0-3 Real Madrid
One would assume Real Madrid will show vulnerability at the back after the recent injury to David Alaba. But they have Nacho to cover for this game, and they will likely keep a clean sheet. Any other team might have penetrated Carlo Ancelotti’s backline. But Alaves have been dreadful in the final third since the beginning of this month.
Real Madrid still have prolific attackers despite missing a raft of stars through injury or fatigue. Jude Bellingham will again have all eyes fixed on him, and the England star would like to deliver before the break. Real Madrid will likely run away to a comfortable victory here and go nearer or even past Girona in the table.