Real Madrid are gearing up for a crucial La Liga clash against Alaves, and they've got plenty riding on this one. Sitting in second place with 70 points from 31 games, the Whites can't afford any slip-ups in their pursuit of the title.
They've hit a rough patch lately, dropping points in three of their last five outings. That 3-4 loss to Bayern Munich stung, and draws against Girona plus losses to Bayern again and Mallorca haven't helped. But they did snatch a gritty 3-2 win over Atletico Madrid, showing glimpses of their old spark. Alaves, meanwhile, are scrapping to stay up in 17th on 33 points. Their form's been mixed too, with three draws in their last five, including a wild 3-3 against Real Sociedad, a 4-3 victory over Celta Vigo, and a defeat to Valencia. They're not going down without a fight.
History favors Real Madrid in this fixture. They edged Alaves 2-1 back in December, and looking further, they've won the last three meetings, including a 1-0 away win last April and a 5-0 thrashing earlier. That pattern suggests the visitors might struggle here. Injuries are biting for both sides, though. Real Madrid will miss Thibaut Courtois until early May and Rodrygo for the rest of the season, with Raúl Asencio also sidelined. Alaves face their own woes, sitting Facundo Garcés and Abde Rebbach due to suspensions, plus Carlos Protesoni's muscle issue.
And the lineups could make for an intriguing battle. Expect Real Madrid to line up in a 4-4-2 with Lunin in goal, backed by a defense featuring Trent Alexander-Arnold and Antonio Rüdiger. Up front, Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior will lead the charge—they've been lethal, with Mbappé notching 23 goals and Vinícius adding 11. Alaves might opt for a defensive 5-3-2, relying on Antonio Sivera in nets and hoping Lucas Boyé, who's bagged 11 goals, can cause an upset alongside Toni Martínez with his eight strikes.
With Real Madrid chasing Barcelona and Alaves desperate to climb out of the drop zone, this match has high stakes. The Whites boast a superior goal difference and more wins, so they should dominate proceedings. Keep an eye on Mbappé; he's been unstoppable this season.
I'd say Real Madrid ought to come out on top, given their quality and track record. They might not cover a handicap, but expect goals in this one.
HOME_PLAYER: Kylian Mbappé
HOME_LOOK: not found in search
AWAY_PLAYER: Lucas Boyé
AWAY_LOOK: not found in search
Recommended Bets
Real Madrid to win @1.40 — They're in better form overall and have won the last three head-to-heads, plus their attacking stars should overwhelm Alaves.
Over 2.5 goals @1.80 — Both teams have featured in high-scoring games recently, with Real Madrid's matches often exceeding this total.
Kylian Mbappé to score anytime @1.60 — As the league's top scorer with 23 goals, he's likely to find the net against a leaky Alaves defense.
Odds tend to shorten closer to kickoff — lock in value now.
