La Liga leaders Real Madrid welcome 16th placed Alaves to the Alfredo di Stefano this Friday as they look to continue their match to their first league title since 2017.
The hosts head into this game in red-hot form with seven wins on the bounce. Since the league’s restart, Zidane’s boys have been winning and keeping clean sheets for fun. Their last four games have seen them keep four clean sheets.
Alaves meanwhile are on a five-game losing run. Since the restart, the visitors have won just once and head into this tie as the worst team in the La Liga form table.
With 35 points this term, they are not, particularly in a relegation fight. But with four games still to play, they need to begin winning again if they must avoid a catastrophic end to their season.
Team News
Eden Hazard remains unavailable for Madrid while Raphael Varane is still out with a head injury sustained in their win over Getafe. Captain Sergio Ramos and Daile Carvajal will miss this game through suspension while Nacho Fernandez is an injury doubt.
Meanwhile, Ruben Duarte and Fernando Pacheco ae the only injury absentees for Alaves.
Head to Head
Madrid have won four of the last five meetings between both sides with a solitary Alaves win sandwiched in between.
Team Form
Real Madrid last five games in all competitions: WWWWW
Alaves last five games in all competitions: DWLLL
Betting Preview
Madrid couldn’t have faced a worse opponent than Alaves judging by team form. The hosts can stop winning while their Friday counterparts seem to be unable to stop losing. On paper, the leaders enter as clear favorites.
However, they have just gotten over the line in their recent games as four out of their last five games have come by a one-goal margin. In that period, the hosts had to rely on penalties to open the scoring in three of the four one-goal margin wins.
They remain one of the only teams yet to lose at home this season with thirteen wins (D4) in 17 home games. Three out of their last six home victories have seen them average two second-half goals.
Deportivo Alaves meanwhile are woeful heading into this tie. Away from home, their overall form this season has been dreadful, especially when conceding g the match opener.
They have failed to win in 13 of the 17 road travels where they have conceded the opener (D1, L12). In five of their last six road travels, they have also conceded the opener.
They must remain disciplined at the back if they hope to get anything from this tie as they have struggled to score goals. In 17 away games, they have scored just 12 times and have equalized on just two occasions all season.
Suggested Bets
Real Madrid to win @ 1/4
Under 3.5 Goals @ 1/2
Both Teams to Score/No @ 7/10
