After their absolute thumping of Cultural Leonesa in the Copa del Rey match in the midweek, Real Madrid will be visiting Deportivo Alaves expecting a pretty easy win to extend their period at the top of the table. Zidane made many changes to the midweek side and the Madrid will be back with a strong first team squad against Alaves.
Alaves are currently 13th in the La Liga table with just 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.
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.
Defence
Zidane rested Marcelo in the midweek as he is already wary about injured defenders. He will start in the weekend’s game. Daniel Carvajal and Danilo both started their midweek matches and escaped without any injury, which means they are likely to start the game.
Raphael Varane will continue his brilliant form after a rest in the midweek. Although Pepe played in the midweek’s game, he is expected to pair Varane.
Fabio Coentrao made a positive return into the midweek game but Zidane is not expected to start with him. Keylor Navas will take his position in the goal after Casilla got a chance in the midweek.
