Defeated 0-3 by La Liga leader Girona, Alaves is set to face the second-placed team, Real Madrid. Coach Luis Garcia labeled the loss in Girona as “our worst game of the season,” citing a lack of everything. However, he refused to make excuses for his team being just a few points above the relegation zone. Before the 0-1 loss to Las Palmas in the last home game, El Glorioso had three matches without defeat at their home ground. However, only one of their four home wins in La Liga this year came against teams higher than them in the standings, which doesn’t bode well for their upcoming duel with Madrid. Sedlar and Simeone will be unavailable, with Simeone suffering a leg fracture.
On Sunday, Real Madrid secured a bittersweet victory against Villarreal (4-1), with three points coming at a cost—David Alaba suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury towards the end of the match. While goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and defender Eder Militao have already sustained similar injuries, coach Carlo Ancelotti faces another defensive injury crisis, entering this round two points behind Girona. As his own future at the club remains undecided, the Italian, before the Villarreal game, stated that he wanted the players to ensure a “quiet Christmas” with two victories by the end of 2023. Considering Los Blancos’ unbeaten streak in five away matches in the championship and having lost to Alaves only twice in 17 encounters since 1931, they will start as overwhelming favorites to ensure Ancelotti’s Christmas wish. Out of play are Alaba, Camavinga, Carvajal, Courtois, Gulter, Militao, and Vinicius Junior, who has an Achilles injury.
