Deportivo Alaves will aim to bring an end to their four-match winless run in La Liga when they hit the road to face Atletico Madrid on Sunday.
Atletico Madrid would want to return to winning ways in the league when they resume their 2025/26 La Liga campaign with a home game against Deportivo Alaves at Estadio Metropolitano on Sunday.
The home team are fourth on the table with 38 points in their 19 outings. The Colchoneros are 11 points behind leaders Barcelona, and given how inconsistent they have been, pushing for the league title in the ongoing campaign looks beyond them.
Atletico Madrid could only manage a 1-1 draw against Real Sociedad in their last league outing. Los Rojiblancos then went on to lose the Super Cup semi-final to rivals Real Madrid (2-1). However, they did secure a hard-fought 1-0 win over Deportivo La Coruna in the Copa del Rey last time out. Diego Simeone’s men will be looking to build on that result here.
Meanwhile, the visitors are 16th on the table with 19 points in as many outings. The Basque outfit have already lost 10 league games this season, and their recent form has not been that great. Alaves have been winless in their last four league outings (L3). However, they are heading into this one on the back of a 2-0 win over Rayo Vallecano in the Copa del Rey.
While their league form has not been good enough, the win in the cup competition will certainly give them a lot of confidence heading into this one. Atletico Madrid will be out-and-out favourites, but Alaves will certainly look to cause an upset. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at both teams and tries to predict the tactics they could deploy.
Team News & Tactics
Atletico Madrid
The Madrid-based giants will be without the services of Clement Lenglet (knee), while Nicolas Gonzalez (hamstring) will undergo a late fitness test to determine his availability.
Diego Simeone’s team will line up in a 4-4-2 formation, where Jan Oblak will take charge in goal. Marcos Llorente and Matteo Ruggeri will feature as the full-backs, while David Hancko will pair up with Marc Pubill in the heart of the defence.
As for the midfield unit, Giuliano Simeone and Alex Baena will feature out wide on the flanks in midfield, while Koke will partner Pablo Barrios in a more central role. They will look to ensure Atletico boss possession and dictate the tempo of the game. Finally, Alexander Sorloth should continue to pair up with star striker Julian Alvarez in the offensive third.
Probable Lineup (4-4-2): Oblak; Llorente, Hancko, Pubill, Ruggeri; Simeone, Koke, Barrios, Baena; Sorloth, Alvarez
Deportivo Alaves
The visitors will be without the services of Nikola Maras (knee injury) and Facundo Garces (suspension). Meanwhile, Carlos Protesoni is back available after serving a suspension.
Alaves will most likely line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, where Antonio Sivera will feature in goal. Jonny Otto and Victor Parada should be the full-backs, while Nahuel Tenaglia will partner with Jon Pacheco in central defence.
The back four will receive significant support from Pablo Ibanez and Antonio Blanco, who will form the double pivot in midfield. They will look to ensure the Atletico Madrid midfielders do not run the show.
Carlos Vicente and Carles Alena will feature on the flanks, providing much-needed width to their attacks. Denis Suarez will take up the number ten role, while Toni Martinez will lead the line for Deportivo Alaves against Atletico Madrid this weekend.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Sivera; Jonny, Tenaglia, Pacheco, Parada; Ibanez, Blanco; Vicente, Suarez, Alena; Martinez
Key Stats
- Atletico Madrid have eight wins and a draw in their nine league outings at home.
- Alaves have been winless in their last four league outings (1 draw, 3 defeats).
- In the last 34 meetings between the two teams, Atletico have only lost nine times.
- Alaves have only picked up four points in their nine league games away from home.
- El Glorioso have only lost one out of their last four games against Atletico Madrid. Both league meetings last season ended in a draw.
Player to Watch
Alex Baena
Atletico Madrid had high hopes for Baena when they struck a deal with Villarreal to sign him last summer. While the 24-year-old has done a decent job, he has not lived upto their lofty expectations. In his 892 minutes of first-team action spread across his 17 appearances, he has only three goal contributions.
Since returning from injury, the former Villarreal playmaker has started in three outings across competitions, but has yet to contribute towards a goal. The Spanish international will be eager to make an impact against Alaves in this away fixture.
Prediction
Atletico Madrid 2-1 Deportivo Alaves
Atletico Madrid will head into this fixture as the favourites, especially given their strong home form in La Liga. Diego Simeone’s men are likely to control proceedings with their physicality and structure, while the partnership of Julian Alvarez and Alexander Sorloth should pose a constant threat in the final third.
Alaves, however, will take confidence from their recent cup win and their ability to stay competitive against Atletico Madrid in past meetings. The visitors are expected to stay compact and look to exploit moments in transition, but their struggles on the road could prove costly.
If Atletico Madrid maintain their intensity and avoid lapses in concentration, they should have just enough quality to edge past the visitors at the Metropolitano. The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-1 win for the home team.