Ancelotti under pressure as faltering Real Madrid face Alaves

Carlo Ancelotti and his struggling Real Madrid side are under intense scrutiny ahead of their visit to Alaves on Sunday, 13 April 2025, as they battle to break free from a slump and remain in the La Liga title race.

Real Madrid, four points behind leaders Barcelona, who face Leganes on Saturday, will need to recover quickly from their 3-0 defeat to Arsenal in the Champions League on Tuesday. The team is determined to bounce back and challenge for the title, but with the crucial second leg against Arsenal at home on Wednesday, their focus on that match could lead to a slip-up in Vitoria.

Alaves, sitting 17th in the table and fighting for survival, will sense an opportunity to exploit the weaknesses in Madrid's fragile side. Despite Madrid's pedigree as both Spanish and European champions, Alaves will believe they can capitalise on the current uncertainty surrounding Ancelotti's team.

Madrid's defensive issues have been glaring, having conceded 11 goals in their last four matches, including the heavy loss to Arsenal and a recent La Liga defeat to Valencia. Ancelotti took full responsibility for the crushing defeat at the Emirates, acknowledging that the team failed to respond collectively to the challenges they faced.

"I feel responsible for what happened," Ancelotti said after the loss to Arsenal.

Following Madrid's defeat, reports have emerged suggesting that the club may not retain Ancelotti beyond the season, with Xabi Alonso, former Madrid star and current Bayer Leverkusen manager, being linked as a possible replacement. Madrid, who suffered only two defeats across all competitions last season, have already lost 11 matches this season.

"Ancelotti is playing for the credibility of his project, and maybe his position ahead of next season," Madrid's daily Marca wrote.

Ancelotti has criticised his stars for failing to work together as a unit, particularly after Declan Rice's double for Arsenal from free-kicks. The coach highlighted that individual attempts to regain control of the match ultimately disrupted the team's organisation.

"We were not capable of a joint reaction, united," he explained. "We tried too many individual moves, and that cost us because we lost our order, and from there they controlled the ball and the result."

Defensively, Ancelotti admitted that Madrid have struggled throughout the season to maintain compactness, especially when the team is under pressure.

"We've had a problem with being a compact block throughout the season, both in good moments and bad moments," he added.

Madrid will be hoping for a much-needed boost with Dani Ceballos potentially returning to the squad after being sidelined since February with a leg injury. The former Arsenal playmaker has found form this season, and his absence has only compounded Madrid's difficulties, especially following the departure of midfield maestro Toni Kroos last summer.

Aurelien Tchouameni's return, following a suspension that kept him out of the first leg against Arsenal, should also strengthen Madrid's defensive options.