Real Madrid can go top at least temporarily on Saturday as they travel to the Basque country to take on Alaves.
The hosts have had a strong start to the season, and lie in sixth place with eleven points. Their most impressive victory was a 5-1 win away at Rayo Vallecano two weeks ago.
Real Madrid on the other hand are not in great form, and haven’t scored in their last three matches – their worst goalscoring run for 12 years. They also come off the back of a surprise 1-0 defeat to CSKA Moscow in the Champions League on Tuesday.
What time does it start?
Alaves vs Real Madrid kicks off at 5:30pm (BST) on Saturday 6 October.
Where can I watch it?
The match will be shown live online on Eleven Sports from 5:30pm (BST).
Highlights will be uploaded to the Eleven Sports website after the match.
It’s a big game for…
Toni Kroos: Midfield maestro Toni Kroos made an uncharacteristic error in the Champions League on Tuesday, gifting a goal to CSKA Moscow with a short back-pass. It proved costly, as the European champions lost 1-0 in Russia, but the German international is likely to retain his place in the starting XI alongside Casemiro and Dani Ceballos. The 28-year-old is yet to register a goal or an assist for his club this season.
Remember when…
Cristiano Ronaldo scored a hat-trick and missed a penalty in this fixture between the sides in 2016. Alaves took the lead early on, before Ronaldo’s treble and a goal by Alvaro Morata secured a 4-1 win for Los Blancos. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cg9t4TqAh0g
Player to watch…
Gareth Bale: The Welshman is the club’s joint top-scorer this season, with four goals alongside Karim Benzema. Filling the void left by Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure to Juventus, the 29-year-old will be available for the game after overcoming a minor groin injury sustained in the Madrid derby last week.
Past three-meetings…
Real Madrid 4 (Ronaldo 2, Bale, Benzema) Alaves 0, La Liga, February 2018
Alaves 1 (Garcia) Real Madrid 2 (Ceballos 2), La Liga, September 2017
Real Madrid 3 (Benzema, Isco, Nacho), La Liga, April 2017
Odds…
Alaves to win: 15/2
Real Madrid to win: 7/20
Draw: 19/5
(Odds provided by 888 Sport)
