Real Madrid: 5 players who must shine against Deportivo Alaves

CB Eder Militao

Eder Militao was out with COVID-19, but he has tested negative again and should be ready to suit up on Saturday night vs. Deportivo Alaves. The Brazilian center back might not be the starter over Nacho Fernandez, who showed a lot of heart at Inter, but I’d like to see him in the starting XI on Saturday night.

Militao played well earlier this year when Real Madrid registered a 2-0 clean sheet against Alaves. He was Raphael Varane’s center back partner, and the two central defenders showed great chemistry together. They were calm, quickly cleaned up danger, and had no issues dealing with Lucas Perez or Joselu or whoever Alaves threw at them.

Real Madrid should re-sign Sergio Ramos before his contract runs out and can plan on having two more high-level years from the No. 4. But Los Blancos are also thinking about other center backs on the transfer market as future replacements, such as Jules Kounde of Sevilla or Monaco’s Benoit Badiashile.

Yet they already have a talented young center back in Militao, whom they paid 50 million euros to FC Porto in order to sign. Every game Militao can play is an evaluation point and a chance for the player to get more experience. At Alaves, Militao would be challenged by a technical, experienced striker duo.