La Liga champions Real Madrid will look to continue their winning streak when they host 11th-placed Deportivo Alaves at Santiago Bernabeu.
Deportivo Alaves have been unbeaten in their last four league games, and they will look to extend that streak when they square up against the newly crowned champions of Spain, Real Madrid.
Los Blancos have accumulated 90 points in their 35 outings thanks to 28 wins and six draws. The team in white have only lost once in the league, and that defeat came at the hands of Atletico Madrid back in September last year.
The Merengues have won each of their last five games and are heading into this one on the back of a 4-0 win over Granada. It was a dominant display by Real Madrid despite having the majority of their superstars on the bench. They will look for a similar result in this one as well.
Alaves are currently 11th on the points table with 42 points in their 35 outings thanks to 11 wins and nine draws. They are just one point behind tenth-placed Getafe, and a few positive results before the end of the season could see them finish inside the top half.
The visitors have been unbeaten in their last four outings in the league; they won three in a row before playing out a 2-2 draw against second-placed Girona in their last outing. Given the kind of run they are on, they will surely look to compete with the best team in the division. Meanwhile, The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at both teams and tries to predict the tactics they could put to use.
Team News & Tactics
Real Madrid
Real Madrid will be without the services of David Alaba and Aurelien Tchouameni. Apart from the duo, everyone else is fit and available. Despite their 4-0 win last time, Carlo Ancelotti is expected to make quite a few changes to the XI, with the majority of the regulars returning to the starting XI.
It will be a 4-4-2, where Thibaut Courtois should continue in goal. Dani Carvajal and Ferland Mendy should be the full-backs for this one, while Antonio Rudiger should start alongside Nacho Fernandez in the heart of the defence.
Eduardo Camavinga will feature in the centre of the park alongside Federico Valverde and Toni Kroos. The trio will look to control the tempo and ensure they have the majority of the ball. Jude Bellingham will take charge as the attacking midfielder behind the attacking duo of Vinicius Junior and Brahim Diaz. Given the kind of form Diaz has been in, he should continue up top.
Probable Lineup (4-4-2): Courtois; Carvajal, Rudiger, Nacho, Mendy; Valverde, Camavinga, Kroos; Bellingham; Diaz, Vinicius
Deportivo Alaves
Aleksandar Sedlar remains sidelined with an injury. But, Deportivo Alaves do have a boost, as Samu Omorodion is back available having served a suspension last time out.
Alaves could field a similar XI to the one that started on Saturday with just one change that will see first-choice Antonio Sivera come back into the XI. He will take charge in goal, with the visitors expected to continue in a 4-2-3-1 formation.
Nahuel Tenaglia and Javi Lopez will be the full-backs for them, while Rafa Marin and Abdel Abqar will feature in the heart of the defence. They will look to keep things tight at the back against a star-studded Real Madrid attack.
The back four will be supported by Carlos Benavidez and Ander Guevara, who will feature as the double pivot in the centre of the park. Jon Guridi will continue as the attacking midfielder. Giuliano Simeone and Carlos Vicente will provide the width to their attacks, while Kike García will lead the line for Alaves against Real Madrid.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Sivera; Tenaglia, Abqar, Marin, J Lopez; Benavidez, Guevara; Vicente, Guridi, Simeone; Kike Garcia
Key Stats
- Real Madrid have won each of their last eight games in La Liga.
- Deportivo Alaves have been unbeaten in their last four league outings, winning three of those fixtures.
- Los Blancos have an exceptional record at home this season having won 47 points from their 17 matches.
- Alaves have had a difficult time on the road having won just 14 points out of their 17 away fixture.
- The visitors have lost each of their last four games against the team in white with the reverse fixture ending in a 1-0 defeat.
Player to Watch
Brahim Diaz
Diaz has been in sensational form in recent weeks, as he has four goal contributions in his last two league outings. The 24-year-old attacking midfielder might not be guaranteed a starter under Carlo Ancelotti, but he surely is an important first-team player. In less than 2,000 minutes of first-team football, Diaz has 12 goals and six assists to his name and will be eager to add to it.
Prediction
Real Madrid 3-1 Deportivo Alaves
Alaves have been on an incredible run of late, and they have been unbeaten in their last four games. The visitors were on a three-match winning run and are heading into this one on the back of a draw against the second best team in the league, Girona.
As a result, Alaves will be confident about putting up a strong fight against Real Madrid. But, they still might not be able to stand in their way. The team in white have not lost a league game since September last year and that is unlikely to change here. The Hard Tackle predicts a 3-1 win for the home team.