Real Madrid take on Deportivo Alaves away from home in what will be a massive La Liga game on Saturday, 23 September 2017. Having already fell 7 points behind Barcelona, Madrid can not afford to drop points again as they take on Alaves a team they completed a routine league double last season. The game is set to kickoff at around 15:15 uk time and we will have live links and match highlights of the game right here on this page.
Match Highlights:
Crucial weekend in the La Liga title race as Real Madrid host Alaves while Barcelona take on Granada both at home. Madrid can put pressure on title rivals with a win earlier in the day and go 5 points clear at top of the table for alteast a few hours. While Barcelona must win their game regardless of Madrid result to keep in the title race.
Last season Real Madrid defeated Alaves 3-0 at home and 4-1 away from home en route to 2016-17 La Liga title. Madrid must win this game to keep themselves in touch with high flying Barcelona side.
Real Madrid 3-0 Alaves – March 2017
[ Spanish La Liga 2017 ]
31′ 1 – 0 Karim Benzema
85′ 2 – 0 Isco
88′ 3 – 0 Nacho Fernandez
Deportivo Alaves 1-4 Real Madrid – 29 October 2016
[ Spanish La Liga 2016-17 Match ]
07′ 1 – 0 Deyverson put Alaves in lead early in first half with an nicely taken goal but that only woke up Real Madrid as they turn things around in first half.
17′ 1 – 1 Cristiano Ronaldo scored his first goal of the game and put Real Madrid back into the game.
33′ 1 – 2 Cristiano Ronaldo was it again just after the half hour mark as turnaround was completed as Madrid lead 2-1 going into the break.
Team News & Lineups: Madrid will still be without several key players including the likes of Luka Modric, Casemiro, Sergio Ramos and Dani Carvajal who are all out because of their respective injuries. Zidane’s however has decision to make whether to start with Benzema upfront or Alvaro Morata who has scored in both of their last two games. While James Rodriguez and Isco are likely to fight it out for one place in midfield. Ronaldo, Bale should start upfront alongside either Benzema or Morata while Kroos and Kovacic to keep their places in midfield.
Predictions: Not much is expected for Alaves who has only won once at home this season in the league while Real Madrid has won three of the four away games so far. Its an uphill task for Alaves to get something out of this match while Madrid will be favourite to make it 23 matches without a defeat. I am going with a comfortable 3-0 win for Real Madrid in this one.