Real Madrid must put their week from hell behind them when they travel to face Deportivo Alaves in La Liga.
Carlo Ancelotti’s men suffered a shock last-gasp defeat to Real Sociedad at the Santiago Bernabeu last weekend. Barcelona failing to take full advantage as they drew 1-1 at Real Betis partially softened the blow.
There was no consolation to be found in midweek, however, when Los Blancos were run over 3-0 in the second half of their UEFA Champions League quarterfinal first leg at Arsenal.
With several walking wounded from that encounter in north London, Ancelotti must balance the demands of damaged campaigns at home and abroad against Alaves, who are placed precariously in 17th — one position and two points above the relegation places.
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Deportivo Alaves vs. Real Madrid lineups, starting 11, team news
Indiscipline is hardly helping Alaves’ battle against the drop. Eduardo Coudet has defender Nahuel Tenaglia back from suspension but goalkeeper Antonio Sivera, Jon Guridi and Tomas Conechny must serve one-match bans of their own after ticking over the yellow-card threshold in the 1-0 win at Girona last time out.
Former Barcelona youngster Carles Alena is favourite to replace Guridi in the No. 10 position, with Jesus Owono to start in between the posts.
Veteran striker Kike Garcia will carry Alaves’ hopes of an upset. His goal in the 3-2 defeat at the Bernabeu last September is one of an 11-goal haul in La Liga this term.
Deportivo Alaves starting lineup (4-2-3-1): Owono (GK) — Mourino, Abqar, Diarra, Sanchez — Jordan, Blanco — Vicente, Alena, Martin — Kike Garcia
Injured: None
Suspended: Sivera, Guridi, Conechny
MORE: All the latest Real Madrid news | Latest La Liga top goal scorer list | Latest Champions League top goal scorer list
Ferland Mendy and Dani Ceballos are likely to play some part after their respective hamstring injuries, although a place on a star-studded bench is more likely.
Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Junior are all candidates to sit this one out, while Federico Valverde and David Alaba will be assessed after collecting knocks against Arsenal.
Aurelien Tchouameni sat out the Arsenal game as he served a European ban, so will return here — probably at centre-back. Fellow France international Eduardo Camavinga has no need to rest up after being sent off in the closing stages at the Emirates Stadium.
Real Madrid predicted lineup (4-2-3-1): Courtois (GK) — Vazquez, Asencio, Tchouameni, Fran Garcia — Camavinga, Modric— Rodrygo, Brahim, Guler — Endrick.
Injured: Mendy (hamstring, doubt), Ceballos (hamstring, doubt), Rudiger (knee, doubt) Carvajal (ACL), Militao (ACL).
Suspended: None.
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Deportivo Alaves vs. Real Madrid live stream, TV channel
Here’s how to watch this Copa del Rey semifinal across selected areas of the world’s major regions:
| TV channel | Streaming | |
| USA | ESPN Deportes | Fubo USA, ESPN+ |
| Canada | — | TSN+ |
| UK | — | Premier Sports Player. La Liga TV |
| Australia | beIN Sports 2 | beIN Sports Connect |
| India | — | GXR World |
