Real Madrid vs Alaves: TV channel, live stream, team news & prediction
By Max Parsons
Real Madrid look to get their season back on track as they host Deportivo Alaves on Saturday night.
Carlo Ancelotti's side remain atop La Liga but have had their lead cut down to four points courtesy of a run of just one win on three league outings. Across all competitions, things are even bleaker; Los Blancos have tasted victory just once in their previous five matches, most recently succumbing to a 1-0 defeat at Paris Saint-Germain in their first-leg round of 16 Champions League tie.
They have a golden opportunity to turn things around this weekend, playing an Alaves side that sits in the drop zone and that has won just once in La Liga since early November - although that victory (over Valencia) did come just last weekend.
Here's 90min's preview of this clash...
How to watch Real Madrid vs Alaves on TV
When is kick off? Saturday 19 February, 20:00 (GMT)
Where is it being played? Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
What TV channel is it on? LaLigaTV (UK), ESPN+ (US)
Highlights? La Liga Santander YouTube channel
Referee? Jose Luis Munuera Montero
Real Madrid team news
Ancelotti, excluding Mariano Diaz's continued absence, has no injury or suspension concerns to contend with this weekend.
The Real Madrid boss is, however, expected to make a couple of changes to the side that lost in Paris in midweek, with the likes of Federico Valverde and Rodrygo pushing for starts.
Alaves team news
The visitors also boast a very healthy squad, with Ximo Navarro representing the only certain absentee due to his knee injury.
Having had a free week since overcoming Valencia, Javier Calleja is expected to go with the same side that got the club's first La Liga win in 12 attempts last time out.
Real Madrid vs Alaves head to head record
Boasting a win percentage of 80% against Alaves over the years, Real Madrid should be confident this weekend. In the two clubs' 35 encounters, Los Blancos have come out on top 28 times compared to their opponents' measly tally of five victories. There have also been two draws.
To further diminish the visitors' hopes, the last two meetings have both ended 4-1 in Real's favour.
Real Madrid vs Alaves prediction
Given the hosts' current form, we may not get the domination that recent encounters have yielded. Having said that, anything but a Real Madrid victory would be pretty disastrous and unexpected.
Alaves are in a precarious position and will undoubtedly give all they have to earn a result but, with the quality and game-changing ability Los Blancos' starting XI boasts, Ancelotti's men simply have to put an end to their torrid form here.