Who: Real Madrid vs Alaves
Content: La Liga
Location: Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid, Spain
Date and time: Tuesday, April 21st, 8:30pm (19:30 GMT)
How to follow: Get everything ready on Al Jazeera Sports from 16:30 GMT ahead of the live text commentary stream.
Real Madrid have had to look at themselves after last week’s dramatic defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-finals, with the 15-time European champions staring at the possibility of going into a second successive season without a silver medal.
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The Champions League represented Real’s last realistic route to winning a trophy. Madrid’s La Liga challenge is faltering, with Madrid trailing Barcelona by nine points with seven games remaining.
Bayern’s loss follows a shock Copa del Rey defeat to second-tier Albacete in January, which saw their momentum slump due to domestic stumbles. When Real host Alaves in La Liga on Tuesday, it will be a month since they last won in any competition.
Meanwhile, Barcelona will host Real at the Camp Nou on May 10th with three games left and could clinch a second successive title, but it will be yet another blow to their arch-rivals.
It will take a perfect finish and the collapse of Barca for Real to regain the title.
Alaves are fighting to stay in La Liga, one point off the relegation zone.
Arbeloa’s job is threatened
Madrid’s season started shaky with the appointment of Xabi Alonso. Alonso’s tenure lasted six months, replacing him in mid-January with former teammate Alvaro Arbeloa, who was promoted from his second-team role.
However, while there are signs of improvement in performance, results have not.
Arbeloa’s side took the lead three times against Bayern at the Allianz Arena and had every chance of breaking through until Eduardo Camavinga was shown a red card in the 86th minute after digging deep and exchanging blows in a thrilling clash with the Bavarian giants.
Bayern’s late double gave Madrid a 4-3 loss that night, with Arbeloa saying his team gave their “soul and life”, but they lost 6-4 on aggregate.
This defeat could cost Arbeloa his job, and Los Blancos are bracing for pain and possible changes in the coming weeks and months.
“I have always tried to help the club in the best way I can and that will continue until the last day,” Arbeloa told reporters after the match.
“I am not worried at all (about my future) and will fully understand whatever decision the club makes.
“I’m a club man. If I get injured today, it’s not for me, it’s for Real Madrid, because this year we won’t win the 16th (Champions League title).”
Failure is ‘not an option’ for Madrid
Real’s star striker Kylian Mbappé said on Instagram after the match that “failure has never been and will not be an option” for Madrid.
“We need to take a hard look at ourselves to avoid such disappointments again.
“But I promise you one thing: we will start winning again soon.”
Alaves fight for survival
Quique Sánchez Flores has made the Basque club even more fun to watch since taking over in early March, but his side are just one point above relegation zone 18th-placed Elche.
In the last few games, they have been high scoring, with a 3-3 away draw against Real Sociedad, a 2-2 draw at home against Osasuna, and a 4-3 win against Celta Vigo.
In his pre-match comments, coach Flores described Madrid as a team that would “push us to the limit”.
“Against opponents of that stature, they will always give more effort at the Bernabéu. We have to do things well and be lucky, because it is a team that sometimes pushes us to the limit,” he said.
“We have to execute our plan so that the game lasts as long as possible and goes well until the last 15 to 20 minutes.”
direct confrontation
The two clubs have met 45 times so far, with Madrid winning 37, Alaves five and drawing three.
Madrid have won their last eight games against Alaves, with the last time the away side beat the Whites in November 2020 with a shock 2-1 win at the Bernabéu.
Last 5 encounters:
December 14, 2025: Alaves 1-2 Real Madrid (La Liga) April 13, 2025: Alaves 0-1 Real Madrid (La Liga) September 24, 2024: Real Madrid 3-2 Alaves (La Liga) May 14, 2024: Real Madrid 5-0 Alaves (La Liga) December 21, 2023: Alaves 0-1 Real Madrid (La Liga)
What happened the last time they played against each other?
Goals from Kylian Mbappé and Rodrygo Goes gave Real Madrid a tense 2-1 victory over Alaves in La Liga.
Following Mbappe’s stunning opener on Sunday, Carlos Vicente equalized for Alaves in the second half, but Rodrygo gave the visitors a much-needed victory at the Mendisorozza Stadium.
Real Madrid team news
Andrei Lunin will continue to be first-choice keeper and second-choice goalkeeper, while Thibaut Courtois remains sidelined after missing the past five games with a thigh injury.
Rodrygo will be sidelined for some time due to an anterior cruciate ligament injury sustained in early March.
Defender Raul Asensio will be absent due to gastroenteritis.
However, key midfielder Aurelien Choameni, who missed the loss against Bayern due to suspension, will return.
Expected starting lineup:
Lunin (goalkeeper); Alexander-Arnold, Militao, Rudiger, Carreras. Valverde, Choameni, Guler, Bellingham. Mbappe, Vinicius Jr.
Alavés team news
Midfielder Carlos Benavidez was ruled out due to injury, while left wing-back Abde Rebach was suspended after receiving his fifth yellow card of the season.
There are no other injuries reported for Alaves.
Lucas Boye may earn a starting role after scoring off the bench in the last two games.
Expected starting lineup:
Sibera (goalkeeper); Perez, Otto, Tenaglia, Parada, Jussi. Ibanez, Swing, Griddy. Boi Martinez
