Alaves vs Real Madrid match preview and predictions for Saturday’s LaLiga match. Read on for the head-to-head, team news and predicted lineups as Los Blancos travel to Vitoria.
- DATE: Saturday 23rd January 2021
- KICK-OFF: 21:00 (local time)
- STADIUM: Mendizorrotza
- COMPETITION: LaLiga
Alaves vs Real Madrid Preview
Real Madrid are hoping to end a wretched week on a positive note when they travel to Alaves in LaLiga on Saturday evening. The hosts are under new management with Abelardo back in charge but it has been a poor start to his second spell in Vitoria and he could really do with some form of result here to boost morale in his team’s camp.
Alaves’ sacking of Pablo Machin caught many off guard earlier this month. While it hadn’t been a scintillating watch, there was a sense that Alaves had recovered well from a poor start and at the very least were going to have enough to beat the drop. However the chance to bring back Abelardo was clearly too great for them to pass up, but it has been far from a happy return for the 50 year old so far.
His second stint in charge started with a crushing 5-0 Copa del Rey defeat at Segunda Division Almeria. Home games against Sevilla and Real Madrid don’t exactly mark an easy start in LaLiga either and Alaves were beaten 2-1 at home by the Andalusian club last weekend. Abelardo has at least had some much needed time on the training ground since then with his team which may have given him an opportunity to tweak a few things.
Real Madrid come here looking vulnerable with problems back again, both on and off the pitch. Just about everything that could have gone wrong over the past fortnight has done. They were furious at having to travel in a snowstorm to Osasuna for their most recent league game, and a 0-0 draw leaves them with further ground to make up on Atleti who have won every league game since losing the Madrid derby.
There have also been two painful cup defeats for Los Blancos already this month with a Supercopa loss to Athletic followed by a humiliating Copa del Rey defeat at Segunda B side Alcoyano. With rumours swirling again about his future and just when Zinedine Zidane would have thought his week couldn’t get any worse, he tested positive for COVID-19 meaning he won’t be able to take his place in the dugout for this match.
Read all our LaLiga match previews here!
Head to Head
- Last 6 Competitive Meetings: 4 Real Madrid Wins, 2 Alaves Wins.
- Real Madrid have won on 5 of their last 6 visits to Vitoria.
- The exception was a 1-0 defeat in October 2018.
- Alaves were shock 2-1 winners when the sides met in Madrid earlier this season.
Team News
Rodrigo Ely is expected to be Alaves’ only absentee.
Sergio Ramos, Fede Valverde, Nacho and Dani Carvajal are missing for Real Madrid while Zinedine Zidane’s positive test for COVID-19 will raise questions about whether anyone else in the Madrid camp could also be at risk.
Predicted Alaves Starting Lineup:
Pacheco – Duarte, Lejeune, Laguardia, Ximo – Rioja, Battaglia, Pina, Martin – Joselu, Perez (4-4-2)
Predicted Real Madrid Starting Lineup:
Courtois – Mendy, Militao, Varane, Vazquez – Kroos, Casemiro, Modric – Hazard, Benzema, Asensio (4-3-3)
Alaves vs Real Madrid Predictions
Score Prediction: Alaves 1-1 Real Madrid
Alaves are bidding to complete what would be an unprecedented league double against Real Madrid here. Having a week to work properly with his players, not all he will know well, will have helped the returning Abelardo out. With Los Blancos out of sorts again and missing some key men, there’s every chance this game could end up with the hosts getting a result.
Alaves vs Real Madrid Betting Tips (18+)
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