Alaves vs Villarreal Preview & Prediction | 2023-24 Spanish Primera
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THE FACTS
When is Alaves vs Villarreal on and what time does it start? Alaves vs Villarreal will take place on Saturday 10th February, 2024 – 13:00 (UK)
Where can I get tickets for Alaves vs Villarreal? Visit each club’s official website for the latest ticket information
What TV channel is Alaves vs Villarreal on in the UK? Alaves vs Villarreal will be televised live on LaLigaTV, but La Liga matches are also televised occasionally on Viaplay Sports and ITV
Where can I stream Alaves vs Villarreal in the UK? Alaves vs Villarreal can be streamed live on Viaplay, while ITV matches can be streamed live on ITVX
THE LOWDOWN
ALAVES
At the turn of the year, there were plenty of suggestions and rumours that manager Luis Garcia Plaza may be shown the door at Deportivo Alaves but the Basque club stuck by him and that paid off with three successive defeats helping them climb comfortably into the middle-of-the-table; which would be viewed as more than successful after only gaining promotion back to the top-flight last season.
The 2023 Segunda Division playoff winners had enjoyed three straight wins but all three of those victories came against sides right in the middle of this season’s relegation battle and their good form was ended with a defeat last weekend. Robert Lewandowski, Ilkay Gundogan and Vitor Roque all scored as Barcelona won 3-1 at the Mendizorroza.
VILLARREAL
Just when it appeared that Villarreal may be turning a corner, they turn up and put in a genuinely really poor performance just to peg them back. In the derby of the Yellow Submarine, Villarreal were held to a goalless draw by Cadiz at El Madrigal in their most recent outing, last weekend. They begin this match day sitting just a few places above the bottom three and the relegation places.
The visitors are already on their third manager of the campaign after Quique Setien was replaced by Pacheta early on and then Marcelino arrived during the November international break. They hammered Barcelona by five goals to three a couple of weeks ago but that is their only victory in their last six matches across all competitions.
THE TEAM NEWS
ALAVES
Alaves only have one injury concern for this weekend’s visit of Villarreal with long-term absentee Aleksandar Sedlar remaining unavailable with an ACL issue.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Sivera; Tenaglia, Marin, Duarte, Lopez; Blanco, Guevara; Sola, Guridi, Rioja; Samu
UNAVAILABLE: Sedlar (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
VILLARREAL
Villarreal have several injury issues with Alfonso Pedraza and Dani Parejo unavailable, whilst defender Juan Foyth is a bit of a doubt for this weekend.
PREDICTED XI (4-4-2): Jorgensen; Femenia, Albiol, Cuenca, Moreno; Akhomach, Comesana, Coquelin, Baena; Gerard, Sorloth
UNAVAILABLE: Pedraza (Injured), Terrats (Injured), Parejo (Injured), Pino (Injured), Suarez (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE: Foyth (Injured)
THE PREDICTION
Neither of these teams are overly convincing or to be trusted, to be honest, this season. Deportivo Alaves have enjoyed an impressive start to the calendar year but against teams right down at the bottom, whilst Villarreal have thrashed Barcelona but endured difficult form either side of that victory. What could be expected is a fairly chaotic game on Saturday afternoon so both teams scoring could well be a decent bet.
TIP: BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE
