Alaves vs Real Madrid Prediction: The Pressure to lead to Plenty of Cards

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Real Madrid travel to the Basque Country to take on Alavés on Sunday, with the pressure building on Xabi Alonso. The visiting boss is badly in need of a result, but he's set to be missing a host of key players. 

Little has gone right for the 44-year-old over the past few weeks. Real Madrid have won just two of their last eight games in all competitions. The first six of those matches were all away from home, but a return to the Santiago Bernabéu has delivered back-to-back defeats over the past seven days. 

Alonso has seemingly failed to get this Real Madrid squad to buy into his methods. There have been few signs of the tactical revolution he was brought in to start, following the more hands-off reigns of Carlo Ancelotti and Zinedine Zidane. 

Talk of serious dressing-room unrest adds to the sense that Real Madrid may soon shift course again. A defeat on Sunday may even spell the end of Alonso's reign, barely six months after it started. 

Los Blancos had won every home game this season prior to the visit of Celta Vigo last weekend. That was comfortably their weakest performance at the Bernabéu this term. The Galicians came with a clear gameplan and it was enacted almost perfectly, as they found space on the break to score two second-half goals in a 2-0 victory. 

There was a reaction of sorts against Manchester City in midweek. An early goal from Rodrygo gave them the lead, but Kylian Mbappé failed to make it off the bench due to fitness concerns, and an injury-ravaged home defence failed to keep it tight as Real Madrid fell to a 2-1 defeat against the Premier League side. 

That recent form has to offer encouragement to Alavés as they target a famous upset on Sunday night. Chacho Coudet's side are sitting in mid-table currently, with 18 points from 15 games representing a solid start to their campaign. 

They were 1-0 winners at home last weekend, seeing off Real Sociedad in a Basque derby. Striker Lucas Boyé converted from the penalty spot for the only goal in an even game. The Argentine has quickly become the focal point of his team's attack, following a summer move from Granada. 

He has been used alongside fellow forward Toni Martínez at times, but more often than not, Boyé is tasked with leading the line on his own. That's likely to be the case again here, with Alavés sure to prioritise keeping it tight defensively against strong opposition. 

They have been very effective on that front since Coudet took charge last December. The Vitoria-based side have conceded less than one goal per game on average in all competitions since the appointment of the ex-Celta boss. 

Only Villarreal have conceded fewer goals than Alavés heading into matchday 16 of La Liga 2025/26. They've won four out of eight in front of their own fans, and also held Atlético Madrid to a 1-1 draw in Vitoria back in August. 

Team News: 

There are few selection issues in the home camp. Midfielder Jon Guridi is the only Alavés injury doubt heading into this match. Antonio Blanco may return in the centre of the park to face his old club, in what could be the only change from the side that defeated Real Sociedad. 

It's a very different story for Real Madrid, who have seven confirmed defensive absentees alone. Álvaro Carreras and Fran García both saw red against Celta last weekend and are suspended, so they join the injured Ferland Mendy, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dani Carvajal, David Alaba, and Éder Militão on the sidelines. 

Eduardo Camavinga might have filled in at left-back, but he's also out, so youngster Víctor Valdepeñas is in contention for his senior debut. Fede Valverde is likely to be used at right-back again, while Dean Huijsen may return in defence after injury problems of his own. 

Kylian Mbappé has trained and should again make the matchday squad, but it remains to be seen whether he's deemed fit enough to start, with 21-year-old Gonzalo García on standby once more. Out-of-favour striker Endrick is suspended for this game, and is set for a loan move to Lyon in January.