Real Madrid predicted lineup vs Alaves: Tchouameni back, Güler set to keep his place

Real Madrid do not have much room left for soft responses. After the Champions League disappointment, the first team sheet back in La Liga carries more weight than usual, and the Real Madrid predicted lineup vs Alaves is starting to point toward strength rather than heavy rotation.

The clearest pattern across the main pre-match projections is Aurélien Tchouameni returning to the XI, Arda Güler staying in a prominent role after his brace in Munich, and Kylian Mbappé plus Vinícius Júnior leading the attack again. That suggests Álvaro Arbeloa wants a response that looks assertive from the first whistle, not a lineup built around caution.

The Real Madrid predicted lineup vs Alaves points to continuity, not panic

The official squad list already narrows the picture. Real Madrid have called up Lunin, Mestre and Javi Navarro as goalkeepers; a defensive group including Carvajal, Militão, Alaba, Trent, Carreras, Fran García, Rüdiger, Mendy and Huijsen; midfielders Bellingham, Camavinga, Valverde, Tchouameni, Arda Güler, Dani Ceballos and Thiago; and forwards Vinícius, Mbappé, Gonzalo, Brahim and Mastantuono. Courtois, Rodrygo and Raúl Asencio are not on that list, which naturally limits some of Arbeloa’s options before the XI is even announced.

From there, the projected shape looks fairly stable. ESPN expects Lunin; Trent, Militão, Huijsen, Carreras; Tchouameni, Valverde, Bellingham, Güler; Vinícius and Mbappé. Eurosport and Estadio Deportivo both project almost the same side, also backing Lunin, Tchouameni, Valverde, Bellingham, Güler, Mbappé and Vinícius, while keeping Huijsen in defense and Carreras at left back.

That does not mean every position is locked. Other preview coverage has Rüdiger edging one of the center-back spots instead of Huijsen, and some Spanish projections still leave room for a late call at left back. But even with those small differences, the broader message is the same: Real Madrid are expected to trust their main core and chase authority, not hide behind wholesale changes.

Tchouameni is the change that matters most

Tchouameni’s expected return is the headline because it changes the feel of the lineup immediately. Multiple previews have him coming straight back into midfield, and that gives Madrid a more natural holding presence behind Valverde, Bellingham and Güler. That is an inference from the projected XI, but it is the most obvious tactical consequence of his return.

It also fits the moment. Arbeloa said before the match that only seven league games remain and that Madrid need to win all seven, which does not sound like a coach preparing to treat this as a recovery night. A Tchouameni-Valverde-Bellingham base, with Güler added for creativity, looks much more like a serious competitive lineup than an experimental one.

Arda Güler may be the bigger clue about where Arbeloa is leaning

The most interesting selection detail might still be Güler. Real Madrid’s official match preview specifically highlighted that he arrives in excellent form after scoring twice in Munich, and the outside projections have largely kept him in the lineup. That is not a small call. It suggests Arbeloa may want invention and rhythm in possession, not just energy and control.

If Güler starts again, Madrid are effectively saying his recent level has earned more than a cameo role. It would also mean Bellingham continues operating in a version of midfield that asks him to connect phases rather than simply crash the box, while Mbappé and Vinícius remain the main finishers ahead of him. That reading is an inference from the likely setup, but it lines up with the projected elevens and the form note from the club’s own preview.

There is a bigger squad implication here too. Madrid’s final stretch is not only about points; it is also about which roles feel sustainable going into the summer. If Güler keeps his place in a high-pressure match, that naturally feeds the wider conversations around hierarchy, attacking balance and who is actually forcing Arbeloa’s hand with performances.

What Alavés are expected to bring

This is not the type of opponent Madrid can dismiss as a formality. Real Madrid’s official preview says Alavés come into the match four games unbeaten, sitting 17th with 33 points, and still fully involved in the survival fight. That alone is enough to make the game dangerous, especially for a Madrid side carrying emotional baggage from Europe.

The Alavés projections are also fairly consistent. ESPN has Sivera; Ángel Pérez, Jonny, Tenaglia, Parada, Yusi; Antonio Blanco, Pablo Ibáñez, Guridi; Toni Martínez and Lucas Boyé. Eurosport and Estadio Deportivo also back Sivera, Tenaglia, Parada, Youssef, Blanco, Ibáñez, Guridi, Boyé and Toni Martínez, with only minor variation in the rest. In other words, Madrid should expect a side that looks close to first-choice level for this situation.

That matters because it frames the match correctly. This is not just about whether Madrid pick their strongest names. It is also about whether they can impose themselves quickly against an opponent that still has every reason to scrap for points, slow the game down and turn the Bernabéu atmosphere edgy. That is an inference from Alavés’ league position, unbeaten run and the likely lineups on both sides.

What this means for Real Madrid

The strongest takeaway from the Real Madrid predicted lineup vs Alaves is that Arbeloa appears ready to send a message. If the expected shape holds, Madrid will go with a lineup built around Tchouameni, Valverde, Bellingham, Güler, Mbappé and Vinícius, which is about as clear a statement as he can make after a bruising week.

It also makes this match useful beyond the result. The defensive choices, Güler’s role, Bellingham’s positioning and the balance between control and freedom up front are all themes that can carry into the closing weeks of the season. That is why this is the kind of lineup story that opens the door to deeper reading on player form, tactical tweaks and the decisions that could shape Madrid’s summer.

For now, the Real Madrid predicted lineup vs Alaves looks like a team sheet designed to answer questions, not avoid them. Tchouameni’s return gives the midfield a stronger base, Güler’s likely place adds intrigue, and the overall setup suggests Arbeloa wants a reaction the Bernabéu can actually believe in.

Sources Used:

• Real Madrid CF
• Real Madrid CF
• Real Madrid CF
• ESPN
• Eurosport
• Estadio Deportivo