Real Madrid faces a critical La Liga match against Alaves amidst a season of turmoil. The dramatic 4-3 defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarterfinals last week has left the 15-time European champions staring at the prospect of a second consecutive campaign without silverware. This loss eliminated Madrid's last realistic chance for a trophy this season, compounding their struggles in domestic competitions.
In La Liga, Madrid's position is precarious: they trail Barcelona by nine points with only seven matches remaining. If Barcelona secures a victory over Madrid on May 10, they could clinch the title for the second successive year, adding further pain to their historic rivals. For Madrid to salvage the title, they would require a flawless finish and an unlikely collapse from Barcelona, highlighting the steep challenges ahead.
Madrid's season began unsteadily with the appointment of Xabi Alonso, who lasted just six months before being replaced by former teammate Alvaro Arbeloa in mid-January. Under Arbeloa, performances have shown signs of improvement, but results have not followed: in the match against Bayern, Madrid took the lead three times but conceded late goals to lose 4-3. After the defeat, Arbeloa stated, "I've always tried to help the club in the best way I can, and that's how it will be until the last day," indicating his acceptance of any decision the club might make about his future.
Alaves, on the other hand, are embroiled in a relegation battle, sitting just one point above the drop zone. Since Quique Sanchez Flores took over as manager in early March, the team has become more entertaining to watch, with high-scoring games like 3-3 and 2-2 draws, but consistency remains an issue. Flores described Madrid as a team that "pushes you to the limit," emphasizing the need for luck and a solid game plan to compete at the Bernabeu.
Historically, Madrid dominates this fixture: in 45 encounters, Madrid has won 37, Alaves five, and three have been drawn. Madrid has won the last eight meetings, with Alaves's last victory dating back to November 2020. For the match, Madrid will field Andrey Lunin in goal, with Aurelien Tchouameni returning from suspension, but Rodrygo remains sidelined due to injury. Alaves will be without Carlos Benavidez due to injury and Abde Rebbach due to suspension, adding to their challenges.
Source: www.aljazeera.com