Madrid, Apr 21 (V7N) — Real Madrid will host Deportivo Alavés today in a key La Liga fixture at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, with kickoff scheduled for 1:30 am Bangladesh time.

High stakes for both sides

Real Madrid enter the match under pressure, sitting nine points behind Barcelona in the title race, making this a must-win game to stay in contention for the league crown. With the season entering its decisive phase, every remaining fixture is increasingly critical.

Alavés, meanwhile, are fighting to avoid relegation. Despite recent improvements in form, they face a difficult challenge against one of Europe’s strongest squads.

Real Madrid looking for response

After their exit from the Champions League, Real Madrid are aiming to regroup in domestic competition. However, injuries and inconsistent form have created challenges.

Key players expected to play a major role include:

  • Vinícius Júnior

  • Jude Bellingham

  • Kylian Mbappé

Manager Álvaro Arbeloa stressed the importance of patience and tactical discipline, noting Alavés’ strong defensive structure and counter-attacking threat.

Alavés confident but cautious

Alavés coach Quique Sánchez Flores acknowledged the difficulty of facing Real Madrid but said his team will compete without fear, while maintaining respect for the opposition.

Match outlook

With Real Madrid chasing the title and Alavés battling survival, tonight’s match is expected to be highly competitive, with both sides under significant pressure to secure points.

END/SMA/AJ