Real Madrid is stepping onto the pitch at the Santiago Bernabéu tonight in crisis mode. Following a devastating Champions League elimination by Bayern Munich, interim manager Álvaro Arbeloa is fighting to save his job as Los Blancos host Deportivo Alavés. Kickoff is scheduled for 21:30 CEST. Madrid trails Barcelona by nine points in the league table, meaning any result other than a victory could end their domestic title hopes entirely.
The atmosphere in the Spanish capital is incredibly tense. Arbeloa took over for Xabi Alonso in mid-January, but the brief honeymoon phase is completely over. The recent 6-4 aggregate loss to Bayern forced a massive reality check, and the pressure on the interim manager is now at a boiling point. Arbeloa made it clear in his pre-match press conference on Tuesday that his squad must win all seven of their remaining La Liga matches.
The confirmed starting eleven features Lunin in goal, flanked by Alexander-Arnold, Militão, Huijsen, and Carreras. The midfield relies on Valverde, Tchouameni, and Bellingham. Arda Güler, Vini Jr., and Kylian Mbappé lead the attack. Fans of Spanish sports tuning in will see a heavily offensive lineup designed to break down a resilient opponent.
Matchday 33 : Real Madrid vs Alaves starting XI#RealMadridAlaves #HalaMadrid #LaLiga #RealMadrid #Alaves pic.twitter.com/WY7vM8JGdN
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On the other side of the pitch, Alavés is fighting for survival. Sitting in 17th place with 33 points, they are dangling just one point above the relegation zone. Manager Quique Sánchez Flores has engineered a sudden turnaround. Alavés arrives in Madrid riding a four-game unbeaten streak, making them a highly motivated threat against a wounded giant playing with no other trophies left to fight for.
History heavily favors the home side. Real Madrid has won their last eight consecutive matches against the Basque club. A ninth victory tonight would tie their longest historical head-to-head winning streak in La Liga against Alavés. The paradigm has completely shifted for Los Blancos. Following their dual eliminations from the Copa del Rey and the Champions League, the club is exclusively focused on the domestic title.