Alaves winger Carlos Vicente has spoken with striking confidence ahead of Sunday’s La Liga showdown against Real Madrid, making it clear that his team can take advantage of a wounded opponent.
With Los Blancos travelling to Mendizorroza under pressure, the growing belief inside the Alaves dressing room is that this could be the perfect moment to cause an upset.
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Real Madrid head into this match still reeling from a series of damaging results, including painful setbacks at the Santiago Bernabeu against both Celta Vigo and Manchester City.
Xabi Alonso’s side are eager to respond and restore confidence, but Mendizorroza has a reputation for being an unforgiving venue, especially for teams arriving with doubts.
A warning from Vicente
From Alaves’ perspective, a victory would not only represent a statement result but also allow them to look up the table with renewed ambition.
Vicente, one of the key figures in the attack, openly acknowledged the stature of the opposition while stressing how special these occasions are for players.
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“Madrid is one of the best clubs in the world and in the league. They have spectacular players, and these are the games you dream of playing since you were a kid, against teams you never imagined you would face.
“It’s a huge motivation, a reward for a lot of hard work. It’s a very important opportunity.”
Despite that respect, Vicente made it clear that Alaves are not approaching the game in awe.
“Everyone is excited and eager. And we are convinced that we can get a good result.”
How to beat Real Madrid
Real Madrid face Alaves in a must-win game. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
The winger then turned his attention to what Alaves must do on the pitch to trouble one of Europe’s most dangerous teams.
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Vicente emphasised that discipline and concentration, particularly without the ball, will be decisive.
“When you play against such good and powerful teams, the key is to be very solid at the back so that they have few chances, and to be accurate up front.”
He went on to stress that mistakes are punished ruthlessly at this level, saying,
“These are the basics of football, but in these games, they are even more important because these are opponents who forgive very little and you need to be at 100%.
Spotting the danger man
Finally, Vicente addressed the obvious danger posed by Real Madrid’s star man. With Kylian Mbappe expected to lead the line, Alaves know exactly where the biggest threat lies.
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“There’s one player who stands out above all others at Real Madrid, and that’s Mbappe. He’s clearly an extraordinary player with many qualities.”
Still, the Alaves winger ended on a hopeful note, reminding everyone that even the best can falter.
“There’s no need to say much more because we all know him, but at the end of the day, he’s only human and can have off days. Hopefully Sunday will be one of them,” he said.
Source: Mundo Deportivo
