## Recent Form and Momentum Real Madrid comes into this match in solid form, having secured three wins, one draw, and one loss in their last five league outings. This indicates a team maintaining strong momentum and consistency at the top end of the table. Alaves, in contrast, has a concerning recent record of one win, two draws, and two losses from their last five league games, highlighting their struggle for results and form as they battle near the relegation zone. ## League Standing and Home/Away Splits Real Madrid sits comfortably in second place, demonstrating their status as one of the league's elite teams. Their home record is particularly formidable, with 13 wins, 1 draw, and only 2 losses from 16 matches at home, scoring 37 goals and conceding only 13. This makes their home ground a true fortress. Alaves, positioned 17th, is in a precarious situation. Their away form is a significant concern, having managed only 3 wins, 3 draws, and a staggering 10 losses from their 16 away fixtures, scoring only 16 goals and conceding 28. This stark contrast in home and away performances heavily favors Real Madrid. ## Attacking vs. Defensive Strength Real Madrid boasts a potent attack, averaging 2.1 goals per game, and couples this with a robust defense that concedes an average of just 0.9 goals per game. Their overall record of 22 wins, 4 draws, and 5 losses in 31 games underscores their balanced strength. Alaves, on the other hand, struggles both offensively and defensively. They average a mere 1.1 goals per game while conceding 1.5 goals per game, indicating a significant vulnerability at the back and a lack of firepower upfront. Their overall record of 8 wins, 9 draws, and 14 losses further illustrates this disparity. ## Injuries and Suspensions Real Madrid will be without key players such as Thibaut Courtois (thigh injury) and Rodrygo (knee injury), as well as R. Asencio (illness). While these are notable absences, Real Madrid's squad depth is generally sufficient to absorb such losses without a complete derailment of their performance. Alaves also has some players unavailable, including F. Garces (suspended), C. Protesoni (muscle injury), and A. Rebbach (yellow cards). Given Alaves' already stretched resources and struggle for form, these absences could further weaken their ability to compete against a top-tier side. ## Head-to-Head Comparison The historical head-to-head comparison strongly indicates Real Madrid's dominance, with a 100% win rate when playing at home against Alaves in past encounters. This historical pattern reinforces the expectation of a Real Madrid victory.