Real Madrid’s 1-2 loss to Valencia has dealt a heavy blow to their La Liga title ambitions. 

The result means that the gap between Carlo Ancelotti’s men and leaders Barcelona has now stretched to four points. 

Now, with only a handful of games remaining, Madrid no longer hold their fate in their own hands. Instead, they must hope that Barcelona drop points in the coming weeks, while maintaining a near-perfect run themselves.

The timing of the defeat could not have been worse, especially with a crucial UEFA Champions League tie against Arsenal looming. 

However, once that European fixture is behind them, Real Madrid will turn their focus to their next league match against Deportivo Alaves and there, some good news awaits Los Blancos.

Alaves missing key players for Madrid clash

In what appears to be a calculated decision, up to three important Alaves players will be missing for their trip to the Santiago Bernabeu. 

First-choice goalkeeper Antonio Sivera, midfielder Jon Guridi, and attacking threat Tomas Conechny each picked up their fifth yellow card of the season during their recent clash with Girona. 

As a result, all three will serve a one-match suspension when Alaves face Real Madrid.

This tactic is not entirely new. Valencia used a similar approach in the lead-up to their own visit to Madrid, managing player availability by prioritising fixtures more vital to their fight for survival. 

For clubs like Alaves, avoiding relegation takes priority over trying to upset one of the top teams, especially during such a demanding part of the season.

With their survival battle still unresolved, Alavées seem to be choosing their battles wisely. 

They likely view the fixture against Madrid as one with limited chances of a result, particularly with the Spanish giants sandwiched between tough European fixtures. 

Instead, they are aiming to have their best players available for more winnable matches against direct relegation rivals.

While Madrid will take some comfort from facing a weakened opponent, the bigger concern remains their own inconsistency. 

They can no longer afford any more slip-ups, especially now that Barcelona have the advantage. The road ahead for Ancelotti’s side will not only test their quality but also their resilience under pressure.