Key Facts
- Real Madrid is in a slump: just one win in their last five competitive matches, and they’ve conceded goals in all five games.
- Madrid sits in second place, nine points behind league leaders Barcelona, and is under significant pressure to meet its season goals.
- Alavés is fighting relegation: 17th place and just one point above the relegation zone, but unbeaten in its last four league matches.
- Squad concerns for Madrid: The absence of starting goalkeeper Courtois, as well as Asensio and Rodrygo, weakens both the defense and the attacking options.
- Alavés has shown offensive consistency: they have scored in each of their last five matches, but have also conceded goals in all of them — open matches are frequently expected.
- Head-to-head stats clearly favor Madrid: five straight wins, leading at halftime in four of the last five matchups; Alavés has failed to score against Madrid before the break in recent encounters.
The Champions League elimination against Bayern has not calmed the mood at Real Madrid, and the ongoing debate surrounding coach Álvaro Arbeloa is further heating up the situation. Now the club hosts Deportivo Alavés at the Santiago Bernabéu, a matchup that Madrid won 2-1 in the first leg back in December. However, five competitive matches with just one win currently paint a different picture, which is why this evening is much more than just a regular league home game.
- Venue: Estadio Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid
- Date and time: April 21, 2026, 9:30 PM
- Competition: La Liga (Matchday 33)
The bookmakers see Madrid as clear favorites, but the more exciting bets lie in the goals and the first half. Over 2.5 goals and Both Teams to Score: Yes are attractive options, as Madrid has conceded in five consecutive games, Thibaut Courtois remains sidelined, and Alavés has scored in each of its last five matches.
Real Form & Record Check
The most recent example was the 4-3 loss in Munich, a game that aptly sums up Madrid’s past few weeks: dangerous going forward, vulnerable without the ball, and unable to stabilize when the game gets out of hand. Across all competitions, Real has managed just one win in five games, though they’ve scored in all five. So the offensive threat remains, even if collective control has clearly slipped. The situation in La Liga is similar, though slightly less dramatic. The 1-1 draw against Girona and the 2-1 loss in Mallorca have further strained an already shaky title race, although the 3-2 win against Atlético Madrid showed the level Arbeloa’s team is capable of.
Antonio Rüdiger’s recent improvement in form is a clear positive sign, but the absences of Thibaut Courtois, Rodrygo, and Raúl Asencio leave Madrid with less leeway than the club’s name might suggest.
Real Madrid is likely to line up in a 4-4-2, a familiar formation for the team. With Thibaut Courtois still out, Andriy Lunin (13) is the most likely starter in goal. In defense, Antonio Rüdiger (22) and Éder Militão (3) will form the central pairing, especially with Raúl Asencio unavailable. Ferland Mendy (23) could defend the left flank. The tactical heart of the team would be the midfield quartet of Brahim Díaz (21), Jude Bellingham (5), Federico Valverde (8), and Arda Güler (15), supported by Trent Alexander-Arnold (12) to provide additional width. Up front, Kylian Mbappé (10) and Vinicius Junior (7) would act as a flexible duo, which makes sense given Rodrygo’s absence.
Alavés Form & Record Check
Deportivo Alavés arrives following a turbulent 3-3 draw at Real Sociedad, where they remained aggressive and managed to force an equalizer through Lucas Boyé. This result extended a streak of four consecutive unbeaten league games, and what’s particularly important for this away match: they’ve scored in each of their last five league games. This isn’t a cautious battle for survival, but a team willing to engage in open matches. That openness, however, comes at a price. In all five of those games, Alavés also conceded goals, and the draws against Osasuna and Villarreal showed how difficult it is to control matches once they open up. The 4-3 win at Celta Vigo nevertheless highlighted this team’s attacking quality. Boyé is fit again, and only Carlos Protesoni remains sidelined as Alavés looks to defend its razor-thin lead over the relegation zone.
Deportivo Alavés is likely to line up here in a 5-3-2 formation, with Antonio Sivera – 1 in goal behind a back five of Ángel Pérez – 7, Jonny Otto – 17, Nahuel Tenaglia – 14, Victor Parada – 24, and Abde Rebbach – 21. In this system, the wingers will need to provide width, while the center backs maintain compactness. In midfield, Pablo Ibáñez – 19, Antonio Blanco – 8, and Jon Guridi – 18 are expected to provide the necessary balance, with Antonio Blanco – 8 acting as the playmaker and a defensive anchor in front of the back line. Up front, everything points to Toni Martínez – 11 and Ibrahim Diabate – 22 as the likely striking duo. Carlos Protesoni is out with a muscle injury, which noticeably limits the options in midfield.
Real – Alavés Head-to-Head & Statistics
The most recent encounters have been one-sided. Real Madrid has won the last five matches against Deportivo Alavés, most recently 2-1 away in December 2025. Prior to that, there was a 1-0 away win in 2025, followed by 3-2 and 5-0 home victories in 2024, and then another 1-0 away win in 2023. Alavés failed to earn a single point from any of these matches. The recurring pattern is Madrid’s early control. In all five meetings, they scored and were leading at halftime in four of them, while Alavés failed to score before the break every time. Even when the games got closer, as in the two 1-0 wins, the Madrid side found a way to dictate the play. Historically, this is a matchup they have won with real authority.
