This article contains affiliate links to advertisers. Gamble Aware 18+
Only once since 2009/10 have Real Madrid gone through an entire season without hoisting at least one trophy.
But the prospect is now very real as, having been outmanoeuvred by Bayern Munich once again in the Champions League in midweek, they were forced to watch the Copa Del Rey final on TV at the weekend.
All of which just leaves the La Liga title race, but even then Real are nine points adrift of Barcelona – a forlorn hope indeed.
They’ll keep fighting though, which is also an opportune word to describe Deportivo Alaves’ current predicament.
They are clear of the La Liga relegation zone by the faintest of margins, and will head to the Bernabeu on Tuesday hoping that – somehow, some way – they can return to the Basque Country with a positive result.
Real Madrid v Alaves key information
• Date: Tuesday, April 21
• Kick-off time: 20:30 GMT
• Venue: Bernabeu Stadium, Madrid
• Referee: N/A
• VAR: N/A
• TV channels: Premier Sports 1 (UK)
• Odds: REAL (2/9) – DRAW (5/1) – ALAV (12/1)
Real Madrid team news
Alvaro Arbeloa will have to mastermind victory on Tuesday without his first-choice goalkeeper.
Thibaut Courtois continues to recover after tearing a muscle in his thigh, with a return later this month possible.
Raul Asencio is also expected to be absent after missing the midweek defeat against Bayern, while Rodrygo’s sickening knee injury is expected to keep him out until the end of the year.
Real Madrid predicted lineup v Alaves, (4-4-2)
Lunin; Alexander-Arnold, Militao, Rudiger, Mendy; Valverde, Bellingham, Camavinga, Guler; Mbappe, Vinicius Jr.
Alaves team news
Quique Sanchez Flores will prepare for his side’s crucial trip to Madrid without Abde Rebbach, who is suspended after accumulating five yellow cards.
Facundo Garces continues to serve his 12-month suspension for forging papers that enabled him to represent the Malaysian national team.
Carlos Protesani will miss the contest with injury, but Flores otherwise has a full deck with which to mastermind a first Alaves win at the Bernabeu since November 2020.
Alaves predicted lineup v Real Madrid, (5-3-2)
Sivera; Perez, Otto, Tenaglia, Parada, Enriquez; Ibanez, Guridi, Blanco; Martinez, Diabate.
Where to watch on TV or live stream?
Premier Sports is the home of La Liga football on TV in the UK.
This Real Madrid vs Alaves game is scheduled to be shown on Premier Sports 1, which is available with a subscription via Sky and Virgin Media TV packages, as well as Amazon Prime.
Alternatively, you can tune in via the Premier Sports online streaming service, or through a La Liga TV subscription.
Head-to-head record
Over the past decade, Real Madrid and Alaves have met on 17 occasions in competitive action.
Real, you might not be surprised to learn, have been the dominant force – winning 15 of those meetings.
Their last three encounters at the Bernabeu have ended 3-2, 5-0 and 3-0 in favour of the hosts, and it’s perhaps telling that Alaves’ only victory of the past ten years at the venue named after the iconic Alfredo Stefano came in the midst of the pandemic.
The reverse fixture in December ended 2-1 in Real’s favour, although it has to be said that Alaves gave a very strong account of themselves in defeat.
Odds for Real Madrid v Alaves
With 15 wins in their last 17 games against Alaves, it’s little wonder that Real Madrid are priced as short as 2/9 with bet365 to prevail on Tuesday evening. But could they suffer a hangover from their demoralising defeat against Bayern last week? Alaves will certainly be hoping so at an underdog price of 12/1, with the draw available at 5/1.
Odds correct at time of writing, subject to change.