Alaves v Real Madrid preview: Rotation could see Cristiano Ronaldo left out
Saturday 29 October 2016 15:10, UK
Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane could make the shock decision to drop Cristiano Ronaldo for his side's trip to Alaves on Saturday.
Ronaldo has failed to recapture his best form since returning from the knee injury he suffered in the Euro 2016 final, scoring twice in his past seven games for Madrid.
The 31-year-old's goalscoring blip has come as his understudies, Alvaro Morata, Marco Asensio and Lucas Vazquez, have all found their touch in front of goal.
That trio have scored 13 goals between them in limited playing time this season - more than Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema combined - and Zidane has suggested he would make changes for Saturday's match in Vitoria.
"I'm not going to be unfair about it," he told reporters at a press conference on Friday. "But yes, I have to take decisions. I try and do what is best for everyone. "Tomorrow you will see who plays."
Ronaldo is the favourite for this year's Ballon d'Or after captaining Portugal to their unlikely Euro 2016 success while also winning the Champions League with Madrid.
Despite his recent struggles, Zidane believes Ronaldo fully deserves to be crowned the Ballon d'Or winner for a third time.
"I know how it works, but I've seen him all year and Cristiano deserves it," Zidane added. "Cristiano has set such a high bar that whenever he is a little off form, everyone thinks there is a problem.
"In 2016 what he has done, not only at an individual level but also at the team level, has been incredible."
Zidane is wary of the trip to an Alaves side who have already beaten Barcelona this season and who have yet to lose at home in La Liga.
"I expect a very difficult game against a team that has not lost at home," Zidane said. "We must be concentrated and focused and the players are aware of this.
"If we want some silverware to end the season with, we have to think about how to achieve that every day, not believing that some games we will win easily because that's wrong."
Team News
Madrid will be without the suspended Dani Carvajal while Casemiro, Luka Modric and Sergio Ramos remained sidelined by injury.
Victor Laguardia misses out for Alaves through injury while Ibai Gomez is a major doubt.
On-loan Marcos Llorente will also be forced to sit out against his parent club - a situation the 21-year-old midfielder admits frustrates him.
"It's really annoying," Llorente said. "When I signed the loan deal I knew that I was not going to play these games, but preferred not to think about it. I understand I am a Madrid player and the decision they took."
