Real Madrid must bounce back against Alaves after Valencia and Arsenal defeats | OneFootball

Real Madrid do not have the luxury of time.A week that brought back-to-back defeats — to Valencia in La Liga and Arsenal in Europe — has left Carlo Ancelotti’s side playing catch-up on two fronts. Now four points behind Barcelona in the title race and facing a 3-0 deficit in the Champions League, they head to Deportivo Alaves with no option but to respond.Tomorrow’s game is not just about staying in the La Liga title hunt. It is also about rebuilding belief ahead of a near-impossible second leg against Arsenal. As Ancelotti said in his press conference, “It’s fundamental for us to get back to having good feelings when we play.”That process must start in Vitoria-Gasteiz.Ancelotti insisted his side have trained well since the Emirates disaster and are ready to give everything. “Every defeat brings difficult moments,” he admitted. “But fortunately, in football, you always have the chance to come back and have a good game.”Madrid’s opportunity comes against a desperate Alaves side scrapping for survival. The hosts are just one point above the drop zone and will be encouraged by their recent form, including a hard-fought win over Girona last time out. Yet their home record remains weak. Only 16 points collected at Mendizorrotza all season and just 11 goals scored in front of their own fans. That is not the form of a side capable of halting Real Madrid if the visitors are truly focused.The problem for Ancelotti is that his team has not looked focused. Madrid have now conceded five goals in their last two matches and their pressing, running and overall intensity fell well short in London. “We did less in every aspect,” the Italian conceded. “They worked harder than us.”That cannot happen again.Alaves may not have Arsenal’s quality, but they will certainly match their intensity. Ancelotti knows his players must raise their level immediately. “Tomorrow is very important,” he said. “We’re still in the fight for the league.”A win will not erase what happened in midweek. It will not close the gap to Barcelona either, assuming they beat Leganes tonight. But it would stop the bleeding, restore a sense of control and plant the seeds of momentum.Madrid cannot afford another slip. The title race demands perfection. The Champions League demands a miracle. Either way, both journeys start with Alaves.