A 2-1 away defeat to Racing Santander on Saturday left Alaves with something to prove at Estadio Mendizorrotza. Quique Sanchez Flores’ side still sit third in La Liga on 10 points, two behind Real Madrid and five behind leaders Barcelona, but that loss was a reminder that their early-season form is not bulletproof. Across the pitch, Valencia arrive in no better shape: Oskar Sanchez’s interim side fell 1-0 at Sevilla in their last outing and have collected just one point from five matches, sitting bottom of the table with a goal difference of minus nine.
What’s at stake
Alaves are currently third in La Liga on 10 points after five games, level with Atletico Madrid at fourth but separated only on goal difference. Sevilla sit fifth, also on 10 points, meaning the gap between a Champions League spot and the Europa League playoff places is effectively nothing at this stage. A home win keeps them firmly in that top-three conversation; dropping points again would leave them level with three other clubs all fighting for the same European berths.
For Valencia, the picture is starker. They are bottom of La Liga with one point, four losses, and only one goal scored in five games. A defeat here would extend their winless run to six matches dating back to pre-season and push them further adrift of the teams directly above the relegation zone. Interim boss Oskar Sanchez needs a result of some kind to give the squad anything to hold onto.
How they got here
Alaves went into Saturday’s trip to Racing Santander on the back of two straight home wins, including a 5-2 demolition of Osasuna and a 1-0 win over Villarreal. The 2-1 defeat ended that run and showed that Sanchez Flores’ defensive unit can be exposed on the road. Before that, they had drawn 1-1 at Rayo Vallecano and beaten Getafe 3-0 at home on the opening weekend, giving them a last-five record of W-D-W-W-L (oldest to most recent). Valencia’s last five reads differently: they drew 0-0 with Celta Vigo, then lost four in a row, including a 5-0 home collapse against Barcelona and a 3-1 away defeat at Deportivo La Coruna, before the 1-0 loss at Sevilla.
In the table, Alaves’ 10 points put them in a cluster at the top of the division, two clear of sixth-placed Deportivo La Coruna. Valencia’s single point leaves them four behind 17th-placed Malaga, who are also struggling but at least have wins on the board.
Key battle to watch
Valencia have managed only one goal in five La Liga games, so the question is whether their attack, led by Hugo Duro and Arnaut Danjuma, can generate anything against an Alaves defensive unit that, despite the Racing defeat, has conceded just five goals in five games. Alaves’ back line, organized around Nicolas Valentini and Nicolas Tenaglia, will face little sustained pressure if Valencia’s output stays this low, but the visitors’ compact shape could frustrate an Alaves side that was already cut open on the counter at Racing. How Sanchez Flores sets up to break a deep block, rather than absorb attacks, may decide whether this becomes a comfortable win or a tense afternoon.
Key Stats
Match Context
Standings
Head To Head
Our Prediction
Alaves have the quality and the home advantage to win this comfortably on paper, but the defeat to Racing Santander showed they are capable of being disorganized when things go against them. Valencia are so short of attacking threat at the moment that a clean sheet feels within reach for the hosts. Expect Alaves to control possession and find a goal or two without necessarily being at their fluid best.
Alaves
Valencia
Hugo Duro