Deportivo Alavés - Real Madrid

There are questions to answer over where Alaba will fit into the Real Madrid starting lineup. Will he be a replacement for Ramos? Varane has been in poor form, so would he replace the Frenchman?

Alaba is believed to be close to signing for Real Madrid on a pre-contract arrangement, but the Austrian defender isn’t expected to arrive until the end of the season when he is out of contract.

The January transfer window is open, but there’s no real suggestion that Real Madrid will be in the market for new signings before the end of the month. They’re saving their pennies for the summer.

PICTURE: Casemiro scored the opener

Not convincing! Edgar's shot at the back post was actually pretty tame, but Courtois struggled to deal with it! The Real Madrid goalkeeper gets away with it, though.

This has been much better from Alaves in this second half, but they gave themselves so much work to do that Real Madrid must still be feeling pretty secure in the lead they have.

Of course, Real Madrid have already suffered a damaging defeat to Alaves in La Liga this season. They lost to them at the Estadio Alfredo di Stefano, heaping the pressure on Zidane at the time. Going a bit better tonight.

Modric with the shot! Space opened up for the Croatian to get the effort away on goal from 25 yards out. It was on target, but Pacheco makes the comfortable save to deny Modric.

That was arguably Hazard's best performance in a Real Madrid shirt to date. He faded in the second half, but that was almost certainly down to a lack of match fitness and sharpness.

Well, there we go. Real Madrid have been in complete control for much of the match, but Alaves are back in the contest with that goal. The header from Joselu was so powerful!

Real Madrid have struggled for fire power in their last two games. Benzema has dropped out of form and Jovic has left the club to return to Eintracht Frankfurt. Zidane doesn’t have many options. Not a problem tonight, though.

Vazquez is also out of contract at the end of the season and the suggestion is he will be moving on from Real Madrid despite him having a decent campaign so far. He’s started 20 games in a row!

PICTURE: Hazard found the back of the net

Militao is back on the pitch. He was just winded after receiving an elbow in the chest. Real Madrid won't have to make a change, at least not at this stage. He's fine.

Injury! Real Madrid could be forced into a change here. Militao looks to have taken a knock. He is receiving treatment on the touchline as Real Madrid continue play with 10 men.

Militao has looked pretty solid this evening. The Brazilian has been linked with a move away from Real Madrid recently with Tottenham Hotspur believed to be interested.

This has been a positive start to the second half by Alaves. They are making a much more concerted effort to press Real Madrid high up the pitch. That is very notable.

PICTURE: Benzema scored Real Madrid's second

Modric is another key figure who is out of contract at Real Madrid at the end of the season, although recent reports are much more positive on the chances of the Croatian signing an extension. They can't let him leave.

One of the biggest stories at the Santiago Bernabeu right now concerns Ramos who is out of contract at the end of the season. The Real Madrid captain could be moving on in the summer.

Shot saved! That was a decent chance for Alaves to give themselves a lifeline in this match, but Courtois makes the strong save at his near post to make the save from Joselu!

The second half is under way! Real Madrid have a 3-0 lead over Alaves in this La Liga fixture!

HALF TIME: Alaves 0-3 Real Madrid. Goals from Casemiro, Benzema and Hazard have given Real Madrid a commanding lead at the break and the scoreline reflects their dominance.

There will be one minute of stoppage time played at the end of the first half.

Alaves have a lot of work to do to turn this match around in the second half, although it might already be beyond them. It's crucial they grab the next goal to give them a chance.

Wherever Zidane is watching this game, he will be very pleased with what he has seen in this first half. Real Madrid have been brilliant and the scoreline reflects how good they have been.

Hazard seems to be playing in a more central position behind Benzema this season. In fact, the Belgian is frequently the furthest forward player in this Real Madrid system.

Alaves need to find a way to keep the ball and construct some attacking moves that don't involve playing a hopeful ball into the channel and praying for a Real Madrid mistake.

Hazard plays a loose ball and presents Alaves with an opportunity to break fast on Real Madrid. However, Modric is aware to the danger and calmly mops things up. So good.

It's not just Modric who has made a big difference to this Real Madrid midfield unit with his passing. Kroos has also had a very strong first half. The Spanish champions are in control.

PICTURE: Benzema has had a couple chances

It feels like Real Madrid are on the brink of scoring a second goal here and really taking a firm grip of the contest. Alaves are struggling to get out of their own half. Second best.

We're only 30 minutes into this game, but this is the best Real Madrid have played since the first half of their 4-0 win over Granada a few weeks ago. They look back to their best!

Hazard just past the post! Vazquez played a great reverse pass into the Belgian, but Hazard could only send his shot wide of the far post. The angle was tight for him, in fairness.

PICTURE: Casemiro opened the scoring

This has been a really strong start by Real Madrid. They are moving the ball around with confidence. Modric in particular has come to play this evening! What a difference he makes!

Why did he pass? Modric plays another astonishing ball to get Mendy in behind, but the Real Madrid left back attempts to find Benzema with a pass rather than shoot himself!

Another option that is reportedly open to Real Madrid if they make the decision to replace Zidane is to make the call to Raul Gonzalez who has long been seen as a future manager of the club.

Of course, Mauricio Pochettino was long tipped to be the next Real Madrid manager. Florentino Perez is known to be a big fan, but the former Spurs boss has recently taken over at PSG.

It’s already been reported in some sections of the Spanish press that Real Madrid are looking to Julian Nagelsmann as their next manager, although he wouldn’t arrive until the summer.

Indeed, there is a sense that Zidane can’t afford another bad result at this time. A defeat or a draw against Alaves this evening could have grave consequences for the French manager.

After a good run of form over Christmas, the pressure is back on Zidane after the back-to-back defeats against Athletic Club in the Spanish Supercopa and against Alcoyano in the Copa del Rey. A good start here, though.

Modric was rested for the mid-week game against Alcoyano and Real Madrid missed him, even against lower league opposition. That’s how crucial the Croatian is to the Spanish champions.

Flag was up! Once again, Benzema is found over the top with a pass by Modric, he controls on his chest and brings the save out of Pacheco, but this time the flag is up for offside!

The defending for that Real Madrid goal by Alaves was pretty poor. Casemiro had so much time and space to guide the header home. The goalkeeping wasn't great either...

Benzema hits the post! The pass was played over the top by Modric, Benzema looked offside, but replays show he wasn't. The flag stays down and his second attempt strikes the post!

That was a chance! The cross was played into the Real Madrid box from the right side, Martin was making a late run into the area, but he slices his shot wide of the target. An opportunity!

Modric takes aim! The space opened up for the Real Madrid midfielder to get a shot away, but Pacheco was quite comfortable in watching the ball flashes over his crossbar.

Header wide! Militao rises highest to get on the end of a freekick delivery into the Alaves penalty area, but the Real Madrid central defender could only head over the target.

Navarro is shown the game's first yellow card for a late tackle on Mendy.

Zidane gave a number of opportunities to fringe figures for that Copa del Rey match, but none of them took the chance they were handed. Real Madrid’s squad gives the illusion of depth.

Zidane has largely stayed away from rotation in recent weeks, but he made a number of changes for the Copa del Rey round of 32 match against Alcoyano. That decision backfired badly.

Real Madrid come into this game on the back of a damaging defeat in the Copa del Rey to third tier Alcoyano. It was one of the most humiliating results ever suffered by the Spanish giants.

It’s David Bettoni who is in the dugout for Real Madrid this evening. Zidane tested positive for Covid-19 during the week and so he’s isolating. We obviously wish him a speedy recovery!

What sort of match will we get this evening? Will Alaves rise to the ocasion of their 100th birthday? Or will Real Madrid ease some of the building pressure on their manager, Zidane?

The match is under way! It's Alaves against Real Madrid in this La Liga fixture!

Okay, here we go. We are about to get under way. Kick off is just moments away.

Will tonight be the night Hazard delivers the goods for Real Madrid? He's in need of a big performance...

Happy birthday!

Not long until kick off at Mandizorroza. It's Alaves' 100th birthday as a football club this evening!

I'm Graham Ruthven and you can catch me on Twitter ahead of the match to let me know your thoughts. Can Alaves pile the misery on the absent Zidane tonight? Tweet me - @grahamruthven!

Zidane isn't in the dugout for Real Madrid this evening after testing positive for Covid-19, but the Frenchman is still under intense pressure after recent poor results in the cups.

After the mid-week defeat to Alcoyano in the Copa del Rey, Zidane has reverted back to the default with his starting lineup, although there's still no sign of Ramos for the Spanish champions.

TEAM NEWS: Alaves - Pacheco, Navarro, Laguardia, Lejeune, Duarte, Aguirregabiria, Battaglia, Pina, Rioja, Joselu, Méndez. /// Real Madrid - Courtois, Vazquez, Militao, Varane, Mendy, Kroos, Casemiro, Modric, Asensio, Benzema, Hazard.

ICYMI - here is today's Euro Papers. There's some chat about Barcelona's transfer plans for the summer.

Good evening and welcome to Eurosport's LIVE coverage of the Spanish Liga fixture between Alaves and Real Madrid. We'll bring you all the action as it happens at Mendizorroza. Kick off is at 20:00 GMT.