La Liga: Alaves Test for Bruised Blancos

Alaves vs Real Madrid

After a bad week at home and in Europe, Xabi Alonso’s Real Madrid are back in La Liga action on Sunday with a perilous trip to Alava in Northern Spain, where anything less than a win for Los Blancos could spell trouble for their manager.

A 2-1 loss at home to Manchester City in the Champions League followed on from a 2-0 home defeat to Celta Vigo in the Primera Division last Sunday. And after a strong start to the campaign at home and in Europe, things have turned rather sour in Madrid in recent weeks.

On Sunday, they face a team which comes off the back of two wins. Managed by Eduardo Coudet, Alaves beat Real Sociedad 1-0 last week and had a Copa del Rey win in midweek away to Portugalate. And they will do all they can to make matters uncomfortable for their illustrious visitors.

The latest La Liga 2025 betting odds have drifted towards Catalonia of late, and Barcelona are now odds-on favourites to defend their title. Los Blancos have a lot of work to reverse that trend, starting in the Basque on Sunday.

 

Talking Points

Home is where Alaves’ heart is

Sitting 11^th in the Primera Division table and six points above the drop zone, Alaves are in good shape to improve on their 15^th placed finish in 2024/25, and much will depend on their home form. The Estadio de Mendizorroza will be a cauldron when Los Blancos appear on Sunday, and the hosts have had plenty of success in Vitoria, losing only twice in eight home matches this season.

Deportivo pulled off an impressive 1-0 home win against a rapidly improving Real Sociedad last week, as Lucas Boye’s penalty won the points. While La Real had over 60-per cent possession, the hosts limited them to just a single shot on target, and the 18,000 crowd did their part, roaring their heroes over the line for a valuable three points.

In a performance full of resilience, with full-back Jonny Otto a constant calming influence, Alaves had a more potent attacking threat too, with Boye and Carlos Vicente causing Sociedad plenty of problems.

 

Have the wheels fallen off in Madrid?

Back-to-back defeats and only two wins in eight have really shocked Los Blancos fans, who expected the current crop of Galacticos to thrive in every competition they enter and against any opponent they face. They put up a good fight against Manchester City, but the spark and quality weren’t there, and the Sky Blues were relatively comfortable as they saw the game out.

Brazil forward Rodrygo, who has been constantly linked with a move away from Madrid, was Los Blancos’ best player, and he scored a fine goal to give them the lead, but it was no surprise when the Mancunians turned the game around.

With leaders Barcelona and third-seeded Atletico Madrid at home to Osasuna and Valencia on Saturday, Los Blancos may well have dropped to third and be seven points off the lead when they kick off on Sunday.

And Alonso is attracting the sort of La Liga 2025 news headlines he would rather avoid. To be fair to the manager, he has been dealt a bad hand in terms of injuries, with defenders Dani Carvajal, Dean Huijsen, Eder Militao, and Ferland Mendy all sidelined, alongside midfielder Eduardo Camavinga. Top scorer Kylian Mbappe is also doubtful after he missed the Champions League match against Manchester City, suffering with a muscle strain.

 

History

Real Madrid have enjoyed this relationship in the past, winning 16 of the last 18 meetings with Alaves, and they did the double last term, winning 3-2 at the Santiago Bernabeu before taking a 1-0 victory on their travels.

There is little to choose between the two teams in terms of recent form. Both clubs have won two games from six in La Liga, though Alaves have lost four, while Real Madrid have drawn three and lost one. But in all competitions, Alaves have won three from six, while their visitors have won two from six.

 

Betting Tip

The hosts are underdogs for this game at SBOTOP odds of 5.50 to win or 3.82 to draw, and the Double Chance: Alaves or Draw is priced at 2.30. Alonso’s men are strongly odds on at a price of 1.60, but the pressure is on with Barcelona’s foot firmly on the accelerator. And it’s important to note that Atleti are in good form too.

Los Blancos have edged both their last two visits to Alaves by a 1-0 scoreline, and the manager and his players would accept that right now.

   

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