Who: Alaves vs Real Madrid
What: Spain’s La Liga
Where: Mendizorroza Stadium in Vitoria, Spain
When: Sunday, December 14, at 9pm (20:00 GMT)
How to follow: We’ll have all the build-up on Al Jazeera Sport from 17:00 GMT in advance of our text commentary stream.
Real Madrid will hope to ease the pressure on Xabi Alonso when they visit Alaves on Sunday, but the record La Liga winners will know that one more defeat could spell the end of the short-lived tenure of their beleaguered manager.
Recommended Stories
list of 4 itemsend of list
In a welcome show of solidarity, Los Blancos midfielder Jude Bellingham said on Wednesday, after their defeat by Manchester City in the UEFA Champions League, that the players were behind Alonso and no one was “downing tools”.
More welcome news for the Madrid-based club is that Kylian Mbappe is back in contention for Sunday’s game after missing out against City due to injury.
Al Jazeera Sport takes a look at what is surely a must-not-lose for Alonso, but—with Barcelona seven points clear—it may well be a must-win.
How much pressure is mounting on Real Madrid coach Alonso?
Alonso, whom Spanish media reported was set for the sack if Madrid lost against City, remains at the helm despite a 2-1 defeat at a frustrated, whistling Bernabeu.
Despite the outcome, it is hoped that the match could serve as a pivotal moment for a team that has only managed two wins in their last eight games across all competitions.
Alonso’s players rallied around him, with not only Bellingham offering public messages of support after the game and even during it, as goalscorer Rodrygo Goes ran over to hug his manager.
“The only thing we can do is change our attitude … and [against City], we saw a change,” said defender Raul Asencio.
Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was another Madrid player who backed the coach and believes the situation will be eased when results turn.
“We all passionately support the coach, and our victory on Sunday will transform this dynamic,” Courtois stated.
What is Alonso’s take on Real Madrid’s struggles?
After Madrid’s improved display against City, it did not make sense for President Florentino Perez to let the axe fall.
It would be easy to make that call the next time the team stumbles – and if it really is a turning point that doesn’t happen, that would work for him too. This is especially true in the absence of a clear successor.
Alonso, meanwhile, said he hoped Madrid’s current woes could make the team stronger.
“We are having difficulties, but we can grow,” he said. “If we can get past these tough times and change the dynamic, maybe in a few weeks we’ll look back and think, ‘we went through a lot, but it made us stronger.’”
On feeling the criticism and doubts, Alonso said he is not surprised.
“You have to live with it, and when you’re the coach at Real Madrid, you have to be prepared to face it bravely, responsibly, and self-critically, knowing that things can change,” the former Madrid midfielder said. “Despite the result, I’ve seen positive things individually and collectively. Other things haven’t gone so well, but we’re still in it.”
What happened in Real Madrid’s last La Liga game?
In their most recent match in the Spanish top flight, Los Blancos suffered a humiliating defeat at home against Celta Vigo, with two players receiving red cards.
Alvaro Carreras and Fran Garcia were sent off and are suspended as a result for the trip to Alaves.
Are there any glimmers of hope for Real Madrid?
One player who seems to have recovered, not only from injury but also his form, is winger Rodrygo, as he ended his dismal run against City.
After 32 games without finding the net, the Brazilian finished superbly to send his team ahead.
Beyond that, he was back to his electric best, transformed from the diminished figure seen recently.
“It’s one of today’s positive pieces of news to see him with that individual quality, that flair, and he also scored, which was important for him,” said Alonso.
What is the latest on Vinicius Junior’s Real fallout?
On the other flank, Rodrygo’s compatriot Vinicius Junior offered a less convincing display.
When Alonso withdrew from the Clasico in October, the winger’s anger towards him became a flashpoint, contributing to Madrid’s season’s downfall.
Since that moment, Spanish media have reported a growing rift between the players and the coach, suggesting various complaints about his selection decisions and the tactical work they have to do.
It appears to be healing with the support Alonso was offered, although whether Madrid’s stars retain the work ethic they displayed in a glamorous European tie on a wintry Sunday night at Alaves’s Mendizorroza stadium will be a good barometer.
How has the season gone so wrong for Real Madrid?
Alonso appeared to have a promising start to his career at Bernabeu, with Kylian Mbappe scoring freely and his team winning its first seven games of the season. After a victory over Barcelona, the team partially forgot about the loss to Atletico Madrid.
Then something went wrong. The team’s performance plummeted after losing to Liverpool in the Champions League last month. While losing at Anfield is a common occurrence for any club, Madrid’s three consecutive draws in La Liga against Rayo Vallecano, Elche, and Girona raised serious concerns for a team that prides itself on being the best in the world.
But worse was to come: the humiliating 2-0 defeat by Celta Vigo followed by the 2-1 loss to Pep Guardiola’s City. Both of those losses came in front of some disgruntled fans, who jeered the team at Bernabeu.
Now, all bets are off regarding Alonso’s future, just months after he left Bayer Leverkusen, where he had an exceptional tenure that culminated in the Bundesliga title in 2024.
How have Alaves fared this season?
Alaves is strong at home with only two losses in eight games in Vitoria this season, including a 1-0 win over Real Sociedad last round.
They opened their campaign with just three wins in 10. Their recent run of four wins in seven has seen them climb to midtable, with half an eye on European qualification, although the other four matches in that run were all defeats.
What happened the last time Real Madrid played Alaves?
Real were 1-0 winners when the sides met in La Liga at Alves on April 13. Eduardo Camavinga scored the only goal after 34 minutes of a game that saw Kylian Mbappe shown a red card after 38 minutes.
Manu Sanchez’s dismissal in the 72nd minute also reduced the home side to 10 men.
Head-to-head
This is the 29th meeting between the sides, with Real Madrid winning 23 of the encounters, while Alaves have claimed victory on only three occasions.
Alaves team news
Nikola Maras and Facundo Garces will once again be absent due to injury and suspension, respectively
Jon Guridi has had a knee problem but will be assessed before the match.
Real Madrid team news
Alonso said Kylian Mbappe is fit to play on Sunday after the forward missed the Champions League defeat by Manchester City.
“We’ve got Kylian back; he’s ready to play, and we’ll see and decide [if he starts]. That’s good news, obviously,” Alonso said on Saturday.
Real Madrid are without several injured players for the game in Vitoria, including Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dani Carvajal and Eduardo Camavinga.
Garcia, Carreras and Endrick are also suspended. Defender Dean Huijsen is likely to return.
“Evidently, despite the players we’ve got out, we have strong enough players and a strong enough team,” Alonso added.
Alaves predicted starting lineup:
Sivera; Otto, Tenaglia, Pacheco, Parada; Guevara; Calebe, Ibanez, Suarez, Rebbach; Boye
Real Madrid predicted starting lineup:
Courtois; Valverde, Rudiger, Huijsen, Asencio; Guler, Tchouameni, Ceballos; Bellingham; Rodrygo, Vinicius
