By Peter.
Real Madrid head coach Xabi Alonso has delivered positive news ahead of Sunday’s crucial La Liga clash against Deportivo Alavés (December 14, 2025, Mendizorroza Stadium): Star striker Kylian Mbappé is fit and available after recovering from a minor knee issue that sidelined him for the midweek UEFA Champions League defeat to Manchester City.
“We’ve got Kylian back, he’s ready to play, and tomorrow we’ll see and decide (if he starts), that’s good news obviously,” Alonso told reporters on Saturday. The French superstar’s return is a lifeline for a depleted squad bidding to snap a dismal run of just two wins in eight games across all competitions.
Mbappé’s Availability: A Game-Changer for Madrid’s Attack
Mbappé, Real Madrid’s top scorer with 25 goals this season (including standout Champions League form), missed the 2-1 Bernabéu loss to City due to knee discomfort and a fractured finger. His potential start against Alavés could reignite an attack that’s relied heavily on him amid injuries to key forwards.
Alonso’s side sits second in La Liga, four points behind leaders Barcelona, and leads their Champions League group despite recent stumbles.
Injury and Suspension Nightmare: Up to 12 Absences
Madrid travels to Vitoria with a threadbare squad:
- Confirmed Out/Injured: Trent Alexander-Arnold (thigh), Dani Carvajal (knee), Eduardo Camavinga (ankle), Éder Militão (hamstring), David Alaba (knee), Ferland Mendy (muscle), Dean Huijsen (knee doubt).
- Suspended: Fran García, Álvaro Carreras, Endrick.
- Potential Makeshift Lineup: Fede Valverde at right-back; Raúl Asencio partnering Antonio Rüdiger in defense; youth options like Víctor Valdepeñas or Castilla call-ups on the left.
Alonso remained defiant: “Evidently despite the players we’ve got out we have strong enough players and a strong enough team.”
Alonso’s Future on the Line? “Tough Times Can Make Us Stronger”
The Alavés trip is widely viewed as make-or-break for Alonso, appointed in June 2025 after Leverkusen’s unbeaten treble. Reports suggest a poor result could trigger his sacking, with Madrid enduring their worst streak since 2023.
Yet the Spaniard struck an optimistic tone: “We are having difficulties but we can grow… If we get past these tough times, change the dynamic, maybe in a few weeks we’ll look back and think ‘we went through a lot but it made us stronger’.”
Alavés, formidable at home (only two losses in eight), pose a stern test—Madrid hasn’t lost there since 2018 but needs points desperately.
Match Details: Real Madrid vs Alavés
- Date/Time: Sunday, December 14, 2025 – 21:00 CET (3:00 PM ET)
- Venue: Mendizorroza, Vitoria-Gasteiz
- Context: La Liga Matchday 16; Madrid chasing Barca; potential defining moment for Alonso era.
Mbappé’s return offers hope, but with a patched-up defense and mounting pressure, Los Blancos face a pivotal 90 minutes. Win, and breathe; lose, and the Bernabéu hot seat scorches.
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