According to “Varzesh3,” Alaves and Real Madrid will face off tonight at the Mendizorrotza Stadium in a crucial match for both teams. Real Madrid aims to close the gap with Barcelona, while the Basque side seeks a second consecutive win to distance themselves from the relegation zone. The last time Alaves defeated Real Madrid at home was in 2018.

That match on October 6, though played in the eighth week of La Liga, was a turning point in Real Madrid’s season. That night, Alaves secured a historic 1-0 victory over Real Madrid with a late goal from Manu Garcia in stoppage time. This defeat marked the beginning of a deep crisis at the club, leading to the sacking of Julen Lopetegui weeks later.

Match Summary
The game reflected Real Madrid’s confusion and lack of identity at the start of the 2018-19 season. Without Cristiano Ronaldo, who had left for Juventus, and with Zinedine Zidane’s unexpected resignation, the team lacked leadership on and off the pitch. Lopetegui’s appointment, who had been sacked from the Spanish national team days before the World Cup for agreeing to join Real, raised doubts rather than confidence.

In Vitoria, Alaves was everything Real Madrid was not: organized, committed, and aware of their limitations. The game was evenly matched, with both teams creating chances. However, just as it seemed the match would end goalless, Manu Garcia scored in the 95th minute, sending the stadium into euphoria.

Aftermath of the Defeat
This defeat was not ordinary. Real Madrid went three consecutive La Liga matches without scoring or winning, extending their goal drought to 409 minutes. Karim Benzema was absent, Gareth Bale struggled with injuries, and Marco Asensio couldn’t fill the creative void left by Ronaldo. Luka Modric, fresh from finishing as the FIFA World Cup runner-up and winning the Best FIFA Men’s Player award, looked fatigued. Toni Kroos and Casemiro were shadows of their usual selves.

Fans and the club’s management grew impatient. Discussions about replacements intensified, and the rest is history. Lopetegui didn’t last. The team suffered a humiliating 5-1 defeat at Camp Nou in El Clasico in late October, and his sacking was confirmed the same day. His tenure at Real Madrid lasted only 138 days.

Tonight, anything less than a victory will effectively end Real Madrid’s La Liga title hopes, and perhaps Alaves will once again sign the end of another Real Madrid manager.