Real Madrid will be visiting Deportivo Alaves and the fans will be expecting a pretty easy win to extend their period at the top of the table. They both have not played since February 2006 when Real Madrid won 3 – 0. Prior to that, they played in September 2005 and Real Madrid won 0 – 3. Alaves have not won against Real Madrid since May 2000, a record that their fans will be aware of and pray that their club can somehow manage to upset the odds.
Alaves are currently 13th in the La Liga table with 10 points in 9 games. If the stats are to be compared, Alaves has just won 2 of the 22 games against Madrid. At home, the Babazorros have won just 1 game against Madrid and that too back in 1931.
Zidane had made many changes to the midweek side in the Copa del Rey and will be having a strong first team squad against Alaves.
Team News
Alaves– Alaves will be without left wing Ibai Gomez and centre-back Aleksander Pantic. Other than that they have a full squad.
Real Madrid- Real Madrid, like Barcelona, are having a long injury list with a number of players out for both long and short period of time. The list includes Sergio Ramos, who is out with a knee injury and is expected to return in late November, Casemiro with fibula shaft structure and Luka Modric with a knee injury, who might be able to make the bench in the next match if things are well.
Fabio Coentrao made a positive return into the midweek game but Zidane is not expected to start with him.
Team Lineup
Deportivo Alaves (4-3-3) – Pacheco; Garcia, Feddal, Laguardia, Vigaray; Camarasa, Torres, Llorente; Mendes, Katal, Deyverson
Real Madrid (4-1-2-3)- Keylor Navas; Marcelo, Varane, Pepe, Carvajal; Kroos; Isco, Kovacic; Bale, Ronaldo, Benzema
Key Players
Deportivo Alaves- Deyverson has been a key player for Deportivo Alaves with 3 goals and 1 assist in the 8 games he played. Alaves will be hoping the Brazilian continues his form against the Spanish giants. Edgar Mendez has been absolutely instrumental in the wing as well but has remained largely unfortunate with only 1 goal to his name so far.
Real Madrid- The trio of Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale will be starting against Alaves are always key to any match against any team. Alvaro Morata scored a brace in the midweek along with Marco Asensio. They have a good chance of coming off the bench and hit the deck.
Odds
Alaves @ 13.00
Draw@ 6.50
Real Madrid@ 1.22
