Alaves winger Carlos Vicente has spoken with confidence ahead of Sunday’s La Liga clash with Real Madrid, making it clear his side can take advantage of injured opponents.
and los blancos Heading to Mendizorosa under pressure, there is a growing belief in the Alaves dressing room that this could be the perfect moment to cause an upset.
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Real Madrid enter this campaign still reeling from a string of damaging results, including painful setbacks against Celta Vigo and Manchester City at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Xabi Alonso’s side will be eager to respond and restore confidence, but Mendiso Rosa is known for being a ruthless surface, especially against teams who arrive with doubts.
Vicente’s warning
For Alaves, a victory not only represents a statement result, but also allows them to look at the standings with new ambitions.
Vicente was one of the key figures in the attack, openly acknowledging his rival’s status while stressing how special these occasions are for the players.
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“Madrid is one of the best clubs in the world and in the league. They have great players and these are the games you dream of playing since you were a kid, against teams you never imagined.
“It’s a huge motivator and a reward for a lot of hard work. It’s a really important opportunity.”
Despite this respect, Vicente made it clear that Alaves did not approach the game with awe.
“Everyone is excited and hungry. We believe we can do well.”
How to beat Real Madrid
Real Madrid will 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 cause problems for one of Europe’s most dangerous teams.
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Vicente stressed that discipline and focus, especially off the ball, will be decisive.
“When you play against such a good and strong team, the key is to be very solid at the back so they have little chance and to be accurate up front.”
He went on to emphasize that mistakes made at this level are punished brutally, saying:
“These are the fundamentals of football but in these games they are even more important because these opponents rarely forgive and you need to be 100 per cent.
Dangerous people found
Finally, Vicente addressed the clear danger posed by Real Madrid’s star. With Kylian Mbappe expected to lead the attack, Alaves has a clear idea of where the biggest threat lies.
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“There is one player who stands out above all others at Real Madrid and that is Kylian Mbappe. He is obviously an extraordinary player with many qualities.”
Still, the Alaves winger ended the game on a hopeful note, reminding everyone that even the best players can falter.
“There’s no need to say too much because we all know him, but at the end of the day he’s just a human being and he’s going to have his off days. Hopefully Sunday is one of them.” he said.
Source: World Sports News