Alaves vs Real Madrid predictions and betting tips – Blancos must bounce back

Real Madrid have not just thrown away a five-point lead at the top of La Liga in recent weeks they have allowed Barcelona to move four clear at the summit of the standings.

Xabi Alonso is under pressure to turn the situation around, and anything other than a win against Alaves would invite fresh scrutiny. Will the Blancos get the job done?

• Real Madrid with a -1 handicap – 6/4 with Midnite
• Over 2.5 goals – 7/10 with BetMGM
• Vinicius Junior to score any time – 6/4 with Sky Bet

Alaves vs Real Madrid odds

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Alaves vs Real Madrid predictions

It is safe to say the honeymoon period is over for Xabi Alonso as Real Madrid manager.

Things have unravelled quickly for the former Bayer Leverkusen head coach. It is only a few weeks since Alonso was riding the crest of a wave having guided Madrid to a 2-1 victory over Barcelona in the Clasico, a win which moved them five points clear of their arch-rivals at the top of La Liga.

The situation looks much bleaker for the Spaniard ahead of this weekend’s clash with Alaves.

Madrid have won only two of their last eight games in all competitions. In the Champions League, losses to Liverpool and Manchester City have plunged their chances of a top-eight finish into doubt. 

Back home that five-point lead is now a four-point deficit, with Barcelona riding high at the summit of the standings.

That is not all. Alonso has allegedly fallen out with Vinicius Junior, who is said to be considering his future at the club. There are rumours, too, that other figures in the dressing room are unconvinced by the former Madrid midfielder’s methods.

Perhaps we should have seen this coming. In a way, Alonso and Madrid always looked like an awkward fit.

Like most top-level modern managers, Alonso likes to control as much as he can from the sidelines. He believes in systems, structures and a squad which carries out his demands to the letter.

Yet Madrid have been at their most successful in recent years when they have been led by a more hands-off coach like Carlo Ancelotti or Zinedine Zidane. A dressing room full of superstars representing the most successful club in European football tends to push back against an approach that is too top-down.

None of which is to say Alonso is doomed. We are only in December and Madrid are still in the mix in all three competitions. Alonso can still turn the situation around.

Having said that, he needs to arrest the team’s slide as quickly as possible. Another defeat by Alaves this weekend would lead to fresh questions being asked of the 44-year-old, who is going through the first real crisis of his managerial career. 

Does Alonso have the answers to get Madrid out of their slump, or will the Spanish giants be looking for a new boss sooner rather than later?

Alaves vs Real Madrid betting tips

Real Madrid will look to get their La Liga title bid back on track against Alaves this weekend.

Madrid back on track?

Real Madrid are at a low ebb right now and they should not expect to be in for an easy game against Alaves.

For one, the Blancos are without several first-teamers due to injury, with the defence hit particularly hard.

Secondly, Alaves are a decent mid-table outfit and they have lost only one of their last five home games.

Even so, Madrid should have enough quality to pick up all three points and ease the pressure on Alonso.

With the quality available to them in the final third, Madrid can win this one by two goals or more.

Pick Real Madrid with a -1 handicap at 6/4 with Midnite

Expect goals in this one

Real Madrid will have to make do without Dani Carvajal, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Eder Militao, Ferland Mendy, Fransisco Garcia and Alvaro Carreras this weekend.

Dean Huijsen and David Alaba are also expected to miss out, so Madrid will essentially be without two backlines.

That will embolden Alaves. They are not exactly the most prolific team in the division, but they will back themselves to make the net bulge against a weakened Madrid side.

That would necessitate the Blancos scoring twice or more to win the game. Goals await at the Campo de Futbol de Mendizorrotza.

Choose over 2.5 goals at 7/10 with BetMGM

Vinicius to step up?

Kylian Mbappe did not feature against Manchester City on Wednesday and he is a doubt for the Alaves game too.

“It’s too early to know if he’ll be ready for Sunday,” Alonso said after the loss to Pep Guardiola’s side. 

“We have to take it day by day, and he wasn’t fit to play today, otherwise he would’ve played. We miss him, but we had enough chances to score that second goal.”

Vinicius Junior could step up in Mbappe’s absence. The Brazilian has had a turbulent few months, but his quality is not in doubt.

Tip Vinicius Junior to score any time at 6/4 with Sky Bet

Alaves vs Real Madrid predicted lineups

• Alaves expected lineup: Sivera; Jonny, Tenaglia, Pacheco, Yusi; Guevara; Calebe, Ibanez, Suarez, Alena; Boye.
• Real Madrid expected lineup: Courtois; Valverde, Asencio, Rüdiger, Mendy; Diaz, Tchouameni, Camavinga, Rodrygo; Garcia, Vinicius.

Where to watch Alaves vs Real Madrid

• Location: Campo de Futbol de Mendizorrotza, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain.
• Date and time: Sunday 14th December, 8pm.
• How to watch: Premier Sports 1.

More La Liga predictions

We have plenty more La Liga predictions and picks – find our latest betting tips from expert punters in our match preview overview.

About the author

Greg Lea

Greg Lea is a freelance football writer from London. He predominantly covers the Premier League and has had work published by the Guardian, FourFourTwo, ESPN and others.

Follow Greg on X: @GregLeaFootball

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