Real Madrid have conceded in each of their last eight LaLiga matches. They host Alavés at the Santiago Bernabéu on Tuesday, April 21; kickoff is 3:30 p.m. ET. Madrid face pressure after their Champions League exit and trail Barcelona by nine points with seven league matches remaining, while Alavés are fighting to avoid relegation.

What's at stake

Real Madrid arrive at home under pressure. Eliminated from the Champions League by Bayern Munich, Los Blancos are nine points behind Barcelona with seven league matches remaining, leaving little margin for error in LaLiga and the prospect of another trophyless season.

Deportivo Alavés are fighting a different battle: they sit perilously close to the relegation zone and are focused on securing top-flight survival. A single point separates Alavés from 18th-placed Elche, so each match feels decisive for their hopes of staying up.

Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez has publicly framed recent setbacks in stark terms, calling the idea of finishing a season without silverware "intolerable," underlining internal expectations at the club.

Form, injuries and suspensions

Key trends and availability:

  • Real Madrid have conceded in each of their last eight LaLiga matches — their worst run since September 2019 — yet remain strong at home, winning seven of their last nine league fixtures at the Bernabéu.
  • Reports suggest goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and forward Rodrygo are unavailable for Real Madrid.
  • Alavés are unbeaten in four league games (one win, three draws) and scored six in a recent 3-3 draw with Real Sociedad in the Copa del Rey. Their last five league matches have produced 24 goals, making them a volatile opponent.
  • Alavés will be without forward Abderrahman Rebbach due to suspension, forcing tactical adjustments for their coach.

Lineup expectations and tactical notes

Predicted XIs circulated by match previews suggest Andriy Lunin could start in goal for Real Madrid, with a back four including Dani Carvajal, Éder Militão and Ferland Mendy, and a midfield anchored by Aurélien Tchouaméni and Federico Valverde. The attack often centres on Jude Bellingham, Vinícius Júnior and Kylian Mbappé when fully fit — an offense capable of changing a game quickly.

Alavés typically set up compact and direct against stronger opposition, looking to exploit transitions and set pieces. Their recent fixtures show they can both score and concede frequently; replacing Rebbach's goal threat will be a key tactical question for the visitors.

Broadcast, streaming and U.S. Viewing

In the United States, the match is available via ESPN's LaLiga coverage. Sporting News and U.S.-based listings indicate the game will stream in English on ESPN Select and be available through ESPN+ for subscribers; Spanish-language coverage is listed on ESPN Deportes.

Kickoff translates to 3:30 p.m. Eastern, 2:30 p.m. Central, 1:30 p.m. Mountain and 12:30 p.m. Pacific on Tuesday, April 21, 2026 (9:30 p.m. local start in Madrid).

Why this matters: With seven league matches left and a nine-point deficit, a trophyless season would intensify scrutiny at the Bernabéu — a point underlined by president Florentino Pérez calling that outcome "intolerable." For Alavés, a positive result at Madrid could provide crucial momentum in a relegation fight where they're just one point above the drop.

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Seven league matches remain; Madrid must cut a nine-point gap to keep title hopes alive, while Alavés will treat the Bernabéu trip as another vital step in their fight to avoid relegation.