Karim Benzema will be looking to help send Real Madrid seven points clear at the top of La Liga when struggling Alaves travel to Bernabeu on Saturday night.
The France international overcame a hamstring problem to face Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League on Tuesday night, but he could not prevent his side from suffering a 1-0 defeat in the first leg of the last-16 tie.
Benzema was substituted late on in Paris, but Los Blancos boss Carlo Ancelotti played down suggestions that the forward was injured, and he has been named in the squad against Alaves.
The 34-year-old has found the back of the net on 24 occasions in 29 appearances in all competitions this season, in addition to contributing nine assists, with 17 of those goals coming in Spain's top flight.
Here, Sports Mole looks at how Benzema has fared against Alaves in the past.
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Benzema has faced Alaves nine times during his Real Madrid career and boasts an excellent record against the Basque side, winning eight times and suffering just one defeat.
The Frenchman has managed eight goals and four assists against Alaves in Spain's top flight, including braces in his last two matches with El Glorioso, who are currently down in 18th position in the table.
Benzema provided an assist in his first league outing against Babazorros during the 2016-17 campaign before getting his name on the scoresheet in a 3-0 success at Bernabeu towards the end of the season.
The forward's only defeat against the Basque club came in October 2018, when he could not prevent Los Blancos from suffering a 1-0 loss in the clash at Mendizorrotza.
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Benzema has enjoyed his recent meetings with Alaves, netting five times in his last three appearances against them, including twice in a 4-1 victory on the opening weekend of the 2021-22 campaign.
The Frenchman also scored twice in a 4-1 success at Mendizorrotza last term, but he missed the match at Bernabeu in 2020-21, which Alaves actually won 2-1, due to a muscular problem.
As a result, Benzema has not faced the Basque side in the Spanish capital since the latter stages of the 2019-20 campaign, when he scored and provided an assist in a 2-0 success while wearing the captain's armband.
The striker has scored in each of his four home league games against Alaves so should enter Saturday's match full of confidence, as he bids to help Real Madrid move seven points clear at the top of the division.
Ancelotti might have wanted to rest Benzema following the match against PSG considering his recent injury problems, but Sevilla are very much in the title race at this stage of the campaign and will be looking to take advantage of any dropped points from the league leaders.
