Three talking points ahead of Deportivo Alaves vs Real Madrid | La Liga MD16 | OneFootball

Real Madrid played over a month of fixtures away from home and returned to the Santiago Bernabeu only for the game against Celta Vigo.

After a seemingly torrid run on the road and a win over Athletic Club to close it out, all signs pointed to Real Madrid turning their season around back in their fortress.

What followed, however, was shocking as Los Blancos not only lost to Celta Vigo but also went on to lose against Manchester City in the UEFA Champions League at home just days later.

Having lost both games at their fortress, they now return on the road against Alaves. Given the injuries, suspensions, and Real Madrid’s poor form in away games, there does not appear to be much optimism ahead of Sunday night’s clash.

Moreover, the pressure on Xabi Alonso only adds to the stakes and virtually places his future in the hands of the team.

Madrid Universal brings you three talking points ahead of Deportivo Alaves vs Real Madrid.

Gaining back momentum

Real Madrid have been on a tilt for the past month, and matters have not been going their way, particularly in La Liga.

While indeed they have lost against both Manchester City and Liverpool in the UEFA Champions League in recent match days, the fact remains that they have thrown away a sizeable lead and allowed Barcelona back into the driver’s seat.

Can Xabi Alonso turn things around? (Photo by Aitor Alcalde/Getty Images)

While the league title race will indeed be a priority come Sunday night, one cannot deny that the first objective must simply be to break their run of poor form.

It is not often that Los Blancos lose two games in a row, and the last time that happened was back in April when they lost to Valencia and Arsenal in back-to-back games. 

Now, they stare at the same rare situation as they have lost to Celta Vigo and Manchester City and must look to get the momentum back on their side. A third consecutive defeat on Sunday, after all, would be devastating.

A non-existent defence

The big issue for Xabi Alonso heading into the game against Deportivo Alaves is the defensive situation, where a combination of injuries and suspensions leave him crippled for options.

The situation is indeed far better than it appeared 24 hours ago, with both Dean Huijsen and Antonio Rudiger being given the green light after their injuries. Alongside Raul Asencio, the duo give the manager three options to choose from.

The full-back positions, however, are virtually non-existent ahead of the upcoming game, and it is clear that Real Madrid’s defence will be compromised on the night.

Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dani Carvajal will both be unavailable on Sunday through their respective long-term injuries, while both Alvaro Carreras and Fran Garcia miss out on the game through the suspensions they earned against Celta Vigo.

Federico Valverde is expected to start at right-back despite playing through discomfort himself, while one of Rudiger and Huijsen is likely to start despite just returning from discomfort. 

At left-back, the question is far more challenging, and it remains to be seen how Alonso solves the problem of the frail defence.

Job on the line

Arguably, the biggest talking point ahead of Real Madrid’s game against Celta Vigo is that of Xabi Alonso’s job and the pressure on the manager ahead of the game.

All eyes will be on Xabi Alonso this weekend. (Photo by Aitor Alcalde/Getty Images)

The new coach has been under fire for a long time now, first for rumouredly losing the dressing room and then for the team’s poor results.

Word had it that he would be sacked if the team lost to Manchester City, and the team went on to do the same. The administration, however, handed him one more chance.

As the game against Alaves nears, however, it is becoming increasingly clear that it could well be his final chance to prove that he is the right man for the job. A defeat, and it could all come crashing down for the club legend.

Heading into the game in difficult circumstances, the situation does not look rosy for the manager, and reports linking the club to his potential replacements are getting stronger. 

The big question, thus, is will tomorrow’s game will be the final one in the Xabi Alonso era, which started with so much promise but fell apart like a house of cards? Only time will tell.