Who: Alaves vs Actual Madrid
What: Spain’s La Liga
The place: Mendizorroza Stadium in Vitoria, Spain
When: Sunday, December 14, at 9pm (20:00 GMT)
Find out how to comply with: We’ll have all of the build-up on Al Jazeera Sport from 17:00 GMT prematurely of our textual content commentary stream.
Actual Madrid will hope to ease the strain on Xabi Alonso once they go to Alaves on Sunday, however the file La Liga winners will know that yet another defeat might spell the tip of the short-lived tenure of their beleaguered supervisor.
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In a welcome present of solidarity, Los Blancos midfielder Jude Bellingham mentioned on Wednesday, after their defeat by Manchester Metropolis within the UEFA Champions League, that the gamers had been behind Alonso and nobody was “downing instruments”.
Extra welcome information for the Madrid-based membership is that Kylian Mbappe is again in rivalry for Sunday’s recreation after lacking out towards Metropolis attributable to harm.
Al Jazeera Sport takes a take a look at what is definitely a must-not-lose for Alonso, however – with Barcelona seven factors clear – could be a must-win.
How a lot strain is mounting on Actual Madrid coach Alonso?
Alonso, whom Spanish media reported was set for the sack if Madrid misplaced towards Metropolis, stays on the helm regardless of a 2-1 defeat at a annoyed, whistling Bernabeu.
The hope is that the match, regardless of the result, is usually a turning level for a workforce with simply two wins of their final eight video games throughout all competitions.
Alonso’s gamers rallied round him, with not solely Bellingham providing public messages of help after the sport and even throughout it, as goalscorer Rodrygo Goes ran over to hug his supervisor.
“The one factor we are able to do is change our perspective … and [against City] we noticed a change,” mentioned defender Raul Asencio.
Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was one other Madrid participant who backed the coach, and believes the state of affairs can be eased when outcomes flip.
“All of us right here help the coach with all our coronary heart, and by profitable on Sunday, we’ll change this dynamic,” mentioned Courtois.
What’s Alonso’s tackle Actual Madrid’s struggles?
After Madrid’s improved show towards Metropolis, it didn’t make sense for President Florentino Perez to let the axe fall.
It might be straightforward to make that decision the subsequent time the workforce stumbles – and if it truly is a turning level, and that doesn’t occur, that may work for him too. Notably given the dearth of an apparent alternative.
Alonso, in the meantime, mentioned he hoped Madrid’s present woes might make the workforce stronger.
“We’re having difficulties, however we are able to develop,” he mentioned. “If we are able to get previous these powerful occasions, change the dynamic, perhaps in a couple of weeks we’ll look again and suppose ‘we went via so much, nevertheless it made us stronger.’”
On feeling the criticism and doubts, Alonso mentioned he isn’t stunned.
“You need to dwell with it, and whenever you’re the coach of Actual Madrid, it’s important to be ready to face it bravely, responsibly and self-critically, understanding that issues can change,” the previous Madrid midfielder mentioned. “Regardless of the outcome, I’ve seen optimistic issues individually and collectively. Different issues haven’t gone so effectively, however we’re nonetheless in it.”
What occurred in Actual Madrid’s final La Liga recreation?
Los Blancos went into meltdown of their final outing within the Spanish prime flight as two gamers noticed purple in the 2-0 house defeat by Celta Vigo.
Alvaro Carreras and Fran Garcia had been despatched off, and are suspended consequently for the journey to Alaves.
📋✅ Our squad for the match!
🆚 @Alaves pic.twitter.com/eOmzjSRcG7— Actual Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) December 13, 2025
Are there any glimmers of hope for Actual Madrid?
One participant they appear to have recovered, not solely from harm but additionally his type, is winger Rodrygo, as he ended his dismal run towards Metropolis.
After 32 video games with out discovering the online, the Brazilian completed fantastically to ship his workforce forward.
Past that, he was again to his electrical greatest, remodeled from the diminished determine seen in current months.
“It’s certainly one of at the moment’s good items of stories to see him with that particular person high quality, that aptitude, and he additionally scored, which was vital for him,” mentioned Alonso.
What’s the newest on Vinicius Junior’s Actual fallout?
On the opposite flank, Rodrygo’s compatriot Vinicius Junior provided a much less convincing show.
The winger’s anger at Alonso when withdrawn within the Clasico in October was a flashpoint which performed its half in Madrid’s season flying off the rails.
Since that second, Spanish media have reported a rising rift between the gamers and the coach, suggesting varied complaints about his choice selections and the tactical work they must do.
It seems to be therapeutic, with the help Alonso was provided, though whether or not Madrid’s stars retain the work ethic they displayed in a glamourous European tie on a wintry Sunday night time at Alaves’s Mendizorroza stadium can be a great barometer.
How has the season gone so unsuitable for Actual Madrid?
Alonso appeared to be off to a great begin to his profession at Bernabeu, with Kylian Mbappe scoring at will and his workforce profitable its first seven video games of the season. Even a loss to Atletico Madrid was partially forgotten after a victory over Barcelona.
Then one thing went unsuitable. A loss at Liverpool within the Champions League final month despatched the workforce right into a nosedive. Shedding at Anfield is appropriate for any membership; three consecutive attracts to Rayo Vallecano, Elche and Girona in La Liga set off the alarm bells at a Madrid that considers itself the perfect on the earth.
However worse was to return: the humiliating 2-0 defeat by Celta Vigo adopted by the 2-1 loss to Pep Guardiola’s Metropolis. Each of these losses got here in entrance of some disgruntled followers, who jeered the workforce at Bernabeu.
Now all bets are off on Alonso’s future simply months after he left Bayer Leverkusen following his distinctive job on the German membership that culminated within the Bundesliga title in 2024.
How have Alaves faired this season?
Alaves is robust at house with solely two losses in eight video games in Vitoria this season, together with a 1-0 win over Actual Sociedad final spherical.
They opened their marketing campaign with simply three wins in 10. Their current run of 4 wins in seven has seen them climb to midtable, with half an eye fixed on European qualification, though the opposite 4 matches in that run had been all defeats.
What occurred the final time Actual Madrid performed Alaves?
Actual had been 1-0 winners when the perimeters met in La Liga at Alves on April 13. Eduardo Camavinga scored the one objective after 34 minutes of a recreation that noticed Kylian Mbappe proven a purple after 38 minutes.
The house facet had been additionally lowered to 10 males when Manu Sanchez was despatched off within the 72nd minute.
Head-to-head
That is the twenty ninth assembly between the perimeters, with Actual Madrid profitable 23 of the encounters, whereas Alaves have claimed victory on solely three events.
Alaves workforce information
Nikola Maras and Facundo Garces will as soon as once more be absent attributable to harm and suspension, respectively
Jon Guridi has had a knee drawback however can be assessed earlier than the match.
Actual Madrid workforce information
Alonso mentioned Kylian Mbappe is match to play on Sunday after the ahead missed the Champions League defeat by Manchester Metropolis.
“We’ve acquired Kylian again, he’s able to play, and we’ll see and determine [if he starts], that’s excellent news clearly,” Alonso mentioned on Saturday.
Actual Madrid are with out a number of injured gamers for the sport in Vitoria, together with Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dani Carvajal and Eduardo Camavinga.
Garcia, Carreras and Endrick are additionally suspended. Defender Dean Huijsen is prone to return.
“Evidently, regardless of the gamers we’ve acquired out, we now have sturdy sufficient gamers and a robust sufficient workforce,” Alonso added.
Alaves predicted beginning lineup:
Sivera; Otto, Tenaglia, Pacheco, Parada; Guevara; Calebe, Ibanez, Suarez, Rebbach; Boye
Actual Madrid predicted beginning lineup:
Courtois; Valverde, Rudiger, Huijsen, Asencio; Guler, Tchouameni, Ceballos; Bellingham; Rodrygo, Vinicius