Alaves vs Atletico Madrid Preview: Team News & Prediction
by Alex Lawes ·
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Deportivo Alaves started the season well but dipped before the prolonged international break as they now welcome Atletico Madrid to the Basque Country on Saturday.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – Not televised / USA – ESPN have the exclusive rights to La Liga games in the USA, so any game may be televised on one of their affiliated channels
How to watch online: UK – Cannot be streamed / USA – ESPN+
Alaves preview: Entertaining Alaves
Following the appointment of former Watford boss Quique Sanchez Flores towards the end of last season, Deportivo Alaves propelled themselves clear of the bottom three and the relegation places with an entertaining style of football.
Their entertaining and improved style continued at the start of this season before going into the break on the back of back-to-back defeats to Racing Santander and then Valencia before a goalless draw with Athletic Club.
Atletico Madrid preview: Big win before the break
Atletico Madrid endured yet another inconsistent start to the season but Los Rojiblancos went into the break on the back of a 2-1 defeat of arch-rivals Real Madrid at the Metropolitano a few weeks ago.
Diego Simeone’s Atleti had won two, drawn one and lost two of their five matches before a three-match winning streak before the break; which began with victories against Real Sociedad and then Osasuna.
Alaves team news: Koski a doubt
Summer signing Ville Koski suffered an injury over the international break and so he is now a doubt with Facundo Garces and Mikel Rodriguez remaining sidelined.
Predicted XI (4-4-2): Antonio Sivera; Tenaglia, Valentini, Xenat Olaiz, Jonny; Pablo Ibanez, Ander Guevara, Carlos Benavidez, Rebbach; Mariano, Lucas Boye
Unavailable: Garces (Injured), Mikel Rodriguez (Injured)
Questionable: Koski (Injured)
Atletico Madrid team news: Alex Grimaldo a doubt
Alex Grimaldo has been key to Atletico’s slight tactical tweaks and improvement but he is a doubt after sustaining a slight injury issue on international duty with Spain.
Predicted XI (4-4-2): Oblak; Marcos Llorente, Marc Pubill, Romero, Hancko; Giuliano Simeone, Koke, Johnny, Alex Baena; Lee, David
Unavailable:
Questionable: Alex Grimaldo (Injured), Pablo Barrios (Injured), Sorloth (Fitness)
Alaves vs Atletico Madrid prediction
Atletico Madrid did show some signs of improvement with Diego Simeone opting to play a more flexible system with back three without the ball and even, at times, with the ball, with a deep and expensively assembled squad. Alaves will take the game to their opponents with home advantage at the Mendizorrozza in Vitoria-Gasleiz and so both teams scoring may well be a decent bet for this one in Northern Spain.
Alaves vs Atletico Madrid tip: Atletico Madrid to win & both teams to score
