Villarreal vs Alaves Preview: Team News & Prediction
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Villarreal will believe they are still just about in the title race in La Liga as the Yellow Submarine take on a mid-table Deportivo Alaves side at El Madrigal this weekend.
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 any game may be televised on one of their affiliated channels
How to watch online: UK – Cannot be streamed / US – ESPN+
Villarreal preview: Clinging on to the title race
Ahead of this weekend’s round of fixtures, Villarreal sit 11 points behind Barcelona at the top-of-the-table but they do have two games in hand, and this weekend is an opportunity with Barca in Saudi Arabia for the Spanish Supercopa.
Marcelino’s Villarreal returned from their defeat to Barca before the break by easing to a comfortable 3-1 win away at Elche at the Manuel Martinez Valero, courtesy of goals from Alberto Moleiro, Georges Mikautadze and Alfonso Pedraza.
Alaves preview: Bottom-half Alaves
Deportivo Alaves begin this weekend’s round of fixtures sitting in the bottom-half of the table after a frustrating 1-1 draw with a poor Real Oviedo side in the Basque Country, rescuing a point via a 69th minute equaliser scored by Lucas Boye.
The Basque outfit, under the management of former Celta Vigo boss Eduardo Coudet, are expected to play more of an attacking style, as is his desire, but they have lacked quality in the final third with just 15 goals scored in their 18 matches.
Villarreal team news: AFCON absentees
Villarreal have confirmed absentees for this one against Alaves, with midfielder Pape Gueye sidelined alongside Moroccan attacking midfielder Ilias Akhomach.
Predicted XI (4-4-2): Junior; Pau Navarro, Santiago Mourino, Rafa Marin, Alfonso; Pepe, Santi Comesana, Dani Parejo, Alberto Moleiro; Ayoze, Mikautadze
Unavailable: Costa (Injured), Foyth (Suspended), Gueye (International duty), Pau Cabanes (Injured), Akhomach (International duty)
Questionable: Kambwala (Injured), Partey (Injured)
Alaves team news: Carlos Benavidez suspended
In that 1-1 draw with Oviedo, the two teams had men sent of late on in the clash and the man sent off for Alaves, Carlos Benavidez, is now naturally missing through suspension.
Predicted XI (4-1-4-1): Antonio Sivera; Jonny, Tenaglia, Jon Pacheco, Yusi; Antonio Blanco; Calebe, Pablo Ibanez, Denis Suarez, Carles Alena; Toni Martinez
Unavailable: Garces (Disciplinary), Carlos Benavidez (Suspended)
Questionable: Diarra (Ineligible), Mariano (Ineligible)
Villarreal vs Alaves prediction
Villarreal have a lot of depth but their current injury and AFCON absentees are causing a bit of strain on the squad. Their woeful showing in the UEFA Champions League does mean that they can heavily rotate in this competition later this month. Alaves are an average side that aren’t too obdurate at the back but way short in attack, too, so siding with a home win is the way to go here.
Villarreal vs Alaves tip: Villarreal to win
