Deportivo Alaves vs Real Madrid 24/01/21

Real Madrid’s pursuit of La Liga toppers Atletico Madrid continues this weekend, as they travel to the Estadio Mendizorrotza to take on Deportivo Alaves.

It’s been a rather torrid new calendar year for Deportivo Alaves so far, as they’ve lost four of the five competitive matches since the turn of 2021 (W1). In La Liga alone, ‘El Glorioso’ have conceded the opening goal in their last three fixtures to lose each of them ‘to one.’ The hosts can’t find much comfort in their recent home form either, given that they’ve pulled off just one victory in their previous seven home league games (D3, L3). What’s more, Alaves have lost six of their eight top-flight meetings with Real Madrid at home in the 21st century (W1, D1), conceding over 1.5 goals in each defeat across that period. This season, however, Abelardo’s men have let in just 1.1 goals on average per La Liga home fixture.

Meanwhile, Real Madrid will be desperate to bounce back from a Copa del Rey upset that saw them go down 2-1 to Alcoyano in extra-time. It’s been a whole different story in La Liga, though, as ‘Los Blancos’ have not lost any of their last eight league matches (W6, D2), preserving a blank sheet on five of those occasions. However, two victories in their previous six La Liga trips (D3, L1) could be a reason for concern, especially considering Zinedine Zidane’s men have scored under 1.5 goals in five of them. Encouragingly, the reigning Spanish champions have conceded the opening goal (if any) in a league second-low two matches this season; but both games in which they shipped the opener, they lost. Additionally, Real Madrid have yet to lose in La Liga when leading at half-time this season (W6, D2).