They've been waiting this moment for months, and Real Madrid will finally return to the field to take on Alaves on Matchday 1 of La Liga 2021-2022. Following a sour ending to the previous tournament, Los Blancos want to begin their road to the title on the right foot. Here, you will find everything you'll need to know about the game, such as the preview, storylines, head-to-head, predictions, and odds. ESPN+ will broadcast the game in the US.
The Merengues came up short in their quest for the league title last season when Atletico Madrid claimed all glory in the final matchday. There have been changes this summer, Zinedine Zidane has stepped down and Carlo Ancelotti returned for a second tenure at Santiago Bernabeu. Moreover, veteran defender Sergio Ramos has left for free to join PSG.
Alaves, meanwhile, face a challenging task to begin their new tournament. Last season, they've finished 16th, just four points clear of relegation. Javier Calleja Revilla's boys now have to face a title-contending side in their opening game. Will they pull off a shock?
Alaves vs Real Madrid: Match Information
Date: Saturday, August 14, 2021
Time: 4 PM (ET)
Location: Estadio de Mendizorroza, Vitoria, Spain
Alaves vs Real Madrid: Time by State in the US
ET: 4 PM
CT: 3 PM
MT: 2 PM
PT: 1 PM
Alaves vs Real Madrid: Storylines and Head-to-Head
This will be the sixth straight season in the Spanish first division for Alaves. In 2020/21 they have struggled to get results, but two wins out of three in the final stretch of the campaign have allowed them to avoid relegation. The Babazorros arrive at their league debut with a 4-3 record from the preseason.
Real Madrid, on the other hand, will be almost starting from scratch this La Liga. They've landed David Alaba after bidding farewell to Ramos and Carletto was brought back after Zidane left. With Lionel Messi out of Barcelona, the Merengues could seize the moment to go after the coveted league title.
This will be the 33rd meeting between these two sides in the Spanish first tier. Real Madrid have emerged victorious in 26 of those games, while Alaves claimed the triumph four times, and they've shared the points on two occasions.
How to watch or live stream Alaves vs Real Madrid in the US
The game to be played between Alaves and Real Madrid on Matchday 1 of La Liga 2021-2022 will be broadcast in the US by ESPN+. Fans will attend this exciting game as La Liga allowed spectators at a 40% capacity.
Alaves vs Real Madrid: Predictions and Odds
Oddsmakers have already unveiled their predictions for this game. FanDuel sees Real Madrid as heavy favorites to get off to a winning start with odds of -230, while Alaves have +600, and a tie would result in a +380 payout.
| FanDuel | |
| Alaves | +600 |
| Tie | +380 |
| Real Madrid | -230 |
* Odds via FanDuel.
