La Liga 25/26: Alaves vs Real Madrid Preview, Prediction, Schedule, Live Score & Lineups

This Round 16 clash sees second-placed Real Madrid, facing mounting pressure after a recent slump and an injury crisis, travel to Estadio de Mendizorroza to face a defensively resolute, mid-table Alavés side. The focus is entirely on whether Real Madrid can recover form and keep pace with league leaders Barcelona.

Kick Off Time

Competition (Round): La Liga (Round 16)

Kick-off (GMT): 20:00 Sat, 14 Dec 2025

Stadium, Location: Estadio de Mendizorroza, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain

Match Facts

The primary match story is Real Madrid’s difficult run, including a reported pressure on the manager after a recent wobble of just two wins in their last eight games across all competitions. This has seen them slip four points behind Barcelona in the standings.

Real Madrid enters the match severely handicapped by injuries and suspensions, especially in the defensive unit, forcing a reliance on squad depth.

Real Madrid maintain a significantly dominant head-to-head record against Alavés, having won the last seven consecutive meetings between the two sides.

Despite the history, Alavés is known for its defensively structured and aggressive approach at home, having only lost once in their previous five home league matches this season.

The game will hinge on the performance of Real Madrid's top-tier attacking talent, led by La Liga's leading goalscorer, Kylian Mbappé (16 goals).

Prediction of AI

The prediction models favor Real Madrid, acknowledging their superior quality, despite the team's ongoing injury crisis and recent dip in form. While Alavés is expected to make the match a tough, physical battle at their home ground, the firepower of the visiting side is deemed too great to contain.

Predicted Score: Alavés 1–3 Real Madrid