Ace Football previews the La Liga match between Deportivo Alaves and Real Madrid, and offers betting tips, odds, line-ups, and team news.
An out-of-form, and managerless, Real Madrid take a trip to northern Spain on Saturday night to face Deportivo Alaves in a must-win La Liga match.
Both sides have struggled for results lately, causing them to lose precious ground in the Spanish league. While Real Madrid remain second in the standings, they’re already seven points behind pacesetters Atletico Madrid. Their city rivals also boast a game in hand at this stage. Alaves, on the other hand, sit a point above the relegation zone in 17th-place.
The hosts, though, grabbed a memorable 2-1 victory in their last meeting with Real Madrid in November. Lucas Perez and Joselu scored before the hour-mark to claim all three points in the Spanish capital. And with home advantage this time out, the Basque club hope for another repeat on Saturday.
Deportivo Alaves Form & Stats
A 2-1 home defeat to Sevilla on Tuesday was Alaves’ third in succession across all competitions. It left them just a point above the drop zone, with 18th-placed Elche boasting two games in hand over them. Hopes of a sixth consecutive campaign in LaLiga, therefore, are under serious threat.
Abelardo Fernandez, who replaced the dismissed Pablo Machin as the manager in January for a second spell at Alaves, has lost his first two games. Despite the setbacks, the Spaniard still believes victory over Real Madrid is possible. The expected return of top-scorer Lucas Perez will no doubt help fuel this belief.
Alaves’ home form, however, has been forgettable, to say the least. The Glorioso have won just twice in 10 league games (D4 L4) at Mendizorrotza this season, losing their last two home fixtures 2-1 to Atletico Madrid and Sevilla. And a 5-0 loss to second-tier side Almeria in a Copa del Rey clash last weekend leaves Fernandez’s men under immense pressure.
Key Team Stats
- Lost their last 3 games in all competitions.
- Lost their last 2 home league games 2-1.
- Won just 2 of their 10 home league games (D4 L4).
- Conceded at least 2 goals in their last 3 league games.
- Over 2.5 goals in 12 of their 14 games against Real Madrid in all competitions.
- Lucas Perez has scored 4 goals in his last 8 league appearances.
Real Madrid Form & Stats
Los Blancos head to northern Spain on the back of a disastrous 2-1 Copa del Rey defeat to third-tier side Alcoyano midweek and without their manager Zinedine Zidane, who tested positive for COVID-19 earlier in the week.
These setbacks are an unwelcome blow ahead of what can only be described as a must-win match. Real Madrid are on a three-match winless run and have only claimed one victory in their five games in all competitions. It’s cost them a tilt at Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup glory already and left their La Liga title defense in jeopardy.
Despite a goalless stalemate away to Osasuna in LaLiga last time out, however, the title-holders are unbeaten in their eight league games (W6 D2). They’ve also won 10 of their last 12 encounters with Deportivo Alaves (L2). Therefore, with Zidane’s assistant David Bettoni at the helm, the visitors will be hopeful of turning their season around on Saturday.
Key Team Stats
- Lost their last 2 games in all competitions.
- Only 1 win in their last 5 games in all competitions (D2 L2).
- Unbeaten in their last 8 league games (W6 D2)
- Won 10 of their last 12 meetings with Deportivo Alaves (L2).
- Casemiro has already picked up 7 yellow cards, including 2 in his last 3 league games.
Team News
Deportivo Alaves
Out: Rodrigo Ely, John Guidetti.
Doubts: N/A.
Real Madrid
Out: Rodrygo, Nacho, Dani Carvajal.
Doubts: N/A.
Predicted Line-ups
(Note: The image will change to the official XI once they’re both announced)
Top Goalscorers in La Liga
Head-To-Head Record
Below are some head-to-head stats on each team’s recent form in La Liga.
Match Facts
Betting Tips
More Odds
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