Real Madrid vs Alavés: LaLiga Saturday night soccer

After finishing 16th last season, Alavés just barely came out above the relegation zone. They ended the season with just nine wins, 11 draws, and 18 losses, with a total of 38 points, only four points above the relegation zone. The team has played a lot this Summer. They played in seven friendlies and won against Levante 1-0 in the final preseason game August 6. Alavés has also seen several incoming players, such as Toni Moya, Taichi Hara, Ivan Martin, Manu Garcia, Florian Lejeune, Mamadou Loum, and Facundo Pellistri.

Real Madrid finished second behind Atletico Madrid in Spain’s top flight last season, but they didn’t win any major trophies, neither Copa del Rey, La Liga, nor the Champions League. They only lost four games last season, but they were mostly before the end of November. They had only one incoming player this offseason, David Alaba. Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane moved on. The team has played only two preseason friendlies, a tie with AC Milan and a loss to the Rangers.

This will be the first game back at Real Madrid for Carlo Ancelotti and he will surely be looking to start his tenure off with a win.

Injuries and sidelined players

Alavés’ Mamadou Loum will not play due to a thigh injury, but otherwise, Javier Calleja has a solid lineup of players to choose from for the game.

On the other hand, Real Madrid will be missing more than a few players. Toni Kroos, Dani Carvajal, Ferland Mendy, Alvaro Odriozola and Dani Ceballos are all out due to injuries and Ancelotti confirmed that Marcelo will be out as well. Eden Hazard and Karim Benzema, who just recovered from Covid, are also unlikely to play.

Though on paper, it seems Real Madrid has a lot of disadvantages, the quality of the team can’t be denied. It’s likely Alavés will not make it easy though.