SOCCER: Alonso under pressure as Real prepare for critical trip to Alaves

MADRID — Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso is under growing pressure ahead of Sunday’s LaLiga trip to Alaves, as a sharp dip in form has dropped his team to second place in the table, four points behind leaders Barcelona.

What began as a promising start to Alonso’s tenure at the Bernabeu has unraveled quickly. Real Madrid have managed just two wins in their last eight matches across all competitions.

A 2–0 league loss to Celta Vigo last Sunday, followed by a midweek Champions League defeat to Manchester City—both in front of sold-out home crowds—has intensified scrutiny around the team.

Alonso, who signed a three-year contract in May after an impressive spell with Bayer Leverkusen, now faces a rare must-win situation as early as December. Spanish media have reported growing internal tensions, including disagreements with key players such as Federico Valverde and Vinicius Jr., further amplifying concerns about the direction of the squad.

Real Madrid are also dealing with a lengthy injury list. Defenders Dani Carvajal, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dean Huijsen, Eder Militao, Ferland Mendy, and David Alaba, along with midfielder Eduardo Camavinga, have all been ruled out for Sunday’s match.

Uncertainty also surrounds top scorer Kylian Mbappé, who continues to recover from the leg muscle injury that sidelined him against Manchester City.

Alaves, currently in mid-table, have been strong defensively at home this season—setting the stage for what could be a pivotal weekend for Alonso.

Meanwhile, league leaders Barcelona, coached by Hansi Flick, host Osasuna on Saturday riding a wave of confidence. With 40 points, Barca have been boosted by the return of captain Raphinha and midfielder Pedri, both of whom played key roles in their come-from-behind 2–1 Champions League win over Eintracht Frankfurt on Wednesday. That victory marked their fourth consecutive win in all competitions.

Third-placed Villarreal, on 35 points with a game in hand, welcome local rivals Levante on Sunday. Under manager Marcelino García Toral, Villarreal have won six straight league matches—a bright spot compared to their difficult Champions League campaign, where they have collected only one point from six games.

Atletico Madrid will look to rebound from consecutive league losses when they face struggling Valencia on Saturday. Diego Simeone’s squad had gone more than two months unbeaten in LaLiga before back-to-back defeats to Barcelona and Athletic Bilbao left them fourth on 31 points, drifting further from the title race. -Fernando KallasEditing by Christian Radnedge/Reuters