Alaves vs Valencia Preview: Team News & Prediction
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Deportivo Alaves are very much in the fight against relegation in La Liga as they now take on a European chasing Valencia side to the Mendizorroza in the Basque Country this weekend.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – Premier Sports / US – ESPN have the exclusive rights to La Liga games in the USA, so Alaves vs Valencia may be televised on one of their affiliated channels
How to watch online: UK – Premier Sports / US – ESPN+
Alaves Preview: Struggling Alaves
Deportivo Alaves sacked manager Luis Garcia Plaza in early December when they were once again performing above expectations but their replacement, Eduardo Coudet, means they now begin this weekend’s round of fixtures sitting in the bottom three and the relegation places.
The hosts come into this one on the back of a slender 1-0 loss to an out of form Athletic Club side at San Mames at the weekend due to a Manu Sanchez own goal. That means they have now managed just one victory in their last five matches in La Liga.
Valencia Preview: Valencian brilliance
On Christmas Eve, Valencia appointed West Bromwich Albion boss Carlos Corberan when they were rock-bottom in La Liga and Los Che have now propelled themselves so high that they are now in contention for potential European qualification this season.
The Valencians most recently eased past Getafe by three goals to nil at Mestalla last weekend thanks to penalties from Pepelu and Hugo Duro either side of a Diego Lopez strike. They have only lost to Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid since Carlos Corberan’s appointment.
Alaves Team News: Nothing fresh
There are no fresh injury concerns or suspension issues for Alaves to deal with this weekend so they will be able to name an unchanged eleven. They are set to be without centre-back Abdel Abqar, though, due to a hamstring injury.
Predicted XI (4-1-4-1): Antonio Sivera; Santiago Mourino, Garces, Diarra, Manu Sanchez; Antonio Blanco; Carlos Vicente, Jon Guridi, Ander Guevara, Carles Alena; Toni Martinez
Unavailable: Abqar (Injured)
Questionable:
Valencia Team News: Couple of doubts
The aforementioned Pepelu is a doubt for this one after being forced off due to a groin injury against Getafe the other day. Andre Almeida is also a doubt, whilst centre-back Thierry Correia is a confirmed absentee.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Mamardashvili; Foulquier, Carlos Tarrega, Cristhian Mosquera, Jose Luis Gaya; Javi Guerra, Barrenechea; Luis Rioja, Ivan Jaime, Diego Lopez; Hugo Duro
Unavailable: Correia (Injured)
Questionable: Pepelu (Injured), Almeida (Injured)
Alaves vs Valencia Prediction
Alaves wanted to become a little more proactive with the hierarchy believing things were about to become stagnant under Luis Garcia Plaza. Well, they haven’t improved in their performance level and they are certainly no more entertaining than they were. They now face a Valencian side that will seek to continue their push for a top eight finish. They can mix it by battling hard whilst also being quite slick in the final third and an away win appears the likeliest outcome for this one in the north of Spain.
Alaves vs Valencia Tip: Valencia to win & under 3.5 goals
