Alavés vs. Real Madrid — La Liga Round 31 Preview (April 13, 2025)

A tense encounter awaits in Vitoria-Gasteiz as Alavés hosts Real Madrid in the 31st round of La Liga. With both teams facing immense pressure — albeit for very different reasons — the stakes are sky-high. This could be a pivotal fixture for punters eyeing a winner.

Alavés: Fighting for Survival

Alavés are entrenched in a gritty battle to avoid relegation. The Basque side has found a bit of form recently, picking up 8 points in their last five matches — a promising return for a club walking a tightrope just two points above the drop zone.

While the motivation to upset a league heavyweight is certainly there, their form at Mendizorrotza tells a troubling story. Alavés has won just once in their last six home outings, losing four and scoring only twice. This lack of firepower in front of their own fans is a major concern as they prepare to face a wounded giant.

Real Madrid: A Team in Turmoil

The pressure is mounting on the Madrid side. After a demoralizing 0-3 loss to Arsenal in the Champions League, their domestic form has also taken a hit. A recent defeat to Valencia has widened the gap between them and leaders Barcelona to four points, putting their title hopes in jeopardy.

Carlo Ancelotti is expected to shuffle the deck ahead of their crucial Champions League second leg, potentially giving Alavés an opening. Still, Real cannot afford any more slip-ups — especially against struggling opposition.

Madrid is currently riding a rare three-game losing streak, something almost unheard of in recent seasons. This match offers them a vital opportunity to regain their footing.

Projected Starting XIs

Alavés: Sivera, Krapivtsov, Murillo, Abqar, Diarra, Sanchez, Jordan, Blanco, Vicente, Guridi, Martin, Garcia
Real Madrid: Fran, Vázquez, Tchouaméni, Rüdiger, Garcia, Diaz, Camavinga, Valverde, Bellingham, Mbappé, Vinicius

Head-to-Head & Key Stats

• Alavés have scored just 11 home goals all season — one of the weakest records in La Liga.

• Real Madrid have scored more than once in only one of their last six away matches.

• The reverse fixture saw Madrid edge Alavés 3-2 in a thriller.

• Real have won each of their last four visits to Mendizorrotza.

Final Verdict

Despite internal struggles and squad rotation, Real Madrid should have enough quality to edge past a goal-shy Alavés side. With the league title slipping away, this is a must-win for Ancelotti’s men if they want to stay in the hunt.

Prediction: Real Madrid to win
Odds: 1.60