Alaves vs Atletico Madrid Preview: Team News & Prediction

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Deportivo Alaves are expected to be at least slightly improved this time around, as the Basque outfit welcome a struggling Atletico Madrid side to the Mendizarroza this week.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – Not televised / US – ESPN have the exclusive rights to La Liga games in the USA, so Alaves vs Atletico Madrid may be televised on one of their affiliated channels
How to watch online: UK – Cannot be streamed / US – ESPN+
Alaves preview: Win and a loss so far
Deportivo Alaves were in a relegation battle throughout last season, but they eventually managed to steer themselves clear. The summer is expected to bring about an improvement in their results to go with a better style under Claudio Giraldez.
The Basque outfit began their season with a last gasp 2-1 defeat of newly-promoted Levante on the opening day of the season, before they then suffered a 1-0 loss to Real Betis at La Cartuja in Seville last weekend.
Atletico Madrid preview: Miserable start
Diego Simeone has been given another major summer transfer window budget, and Los Rojiblancos really do need to evolve to the personnel that they now have but, again, it has been a slow and miserable start to the campaign for Atletico Madrid.
Atleti started their campaign with a 2-1 defeat to Espanyol at the RCDE Stadium in Catalonia on the opening day of the season, before they were then held to a 1-1 draw by an impressive Elche side at the Metropolitano last weekend.
Alaves team news: Nothing fresh
Alaves will be able to name an unchanged eleven for this one, with no fresh injury concerns or suspension issues, albeit Hugo Novoa remains a doubt for the hosts.
Predicted XI (4-4-2): Antonio Sivera; Jonny, Garces, Tenaglia, Victor Parada; Carlos Vicente, Pablo Ibanez, Antonio Blanco, Carles Alena; Jon Guridi, Toni Martinez
Unavailable:
Questionable: Hugo Novoa (Injured)
Atletico Madrid team news: Couple of doubts
A member of that aforementioned Atletico splurge, Alex Baena, is an injury doubt for this weekend, alongside Uruguay international centre-back Jose Maria Gimenez.
Predicted XI (4-4-2): Oblak; Marcos Llorente, Le Normand, Hancko, Ruggeri; Giuliano Simeone, Johnny, Pablo Barrios, Almada; Sorloth, Julian Alvarez
Unavailable:
Questionable: Jose Maria Gimenez (Injured), Alex Baena (Injured)
Alaves vs Atletico Madrid prediction
Deportivo Alaves have been impressive at the start of this season, and that is somewhat surprising after what was quite an underwhelming campaign last year and start to the Claudio Giraldez reign. They face an Atletico Madrid side that will head to the Basque Country that will remain the firm favourites, despite their woeful start to the season, and both teams scoring would therefore surely appear a good bet for this one.
Alaves vs Atletico Madrid tip: Both teams to score