Valencia will continue their quest for European qualification when they travel to Mendizorroza for Wednesday’s La Liga fixture against Alaves.
Meanwhile, the visitors are battling to preserve their top-flight status with just a point separating them from the bottom three.
Match preview
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Alaves are hovering above the drop zone after winning eight, drawing 11 and losing 16 of their 35 La Liga matches this season.
El Glorioso carried a three-game unbeaten streak into Sunday’s meeting with fellow Basque side Athletic Bilbao after drawing with Sevilla and Atletico Madrid on either side of a narrow 1-0 victory against Real Sociedad.
The defeat has left Alaves just one point clear of 18th-placed Leganes, and they remain three points better off than Las Palmas with three games left to play against Valencia, Real Valladolid and Osasuna.
As they turn their focus to Wednesday’s home fixture, Alaves may be concerned by the fact that they have failed to score more than one goal in any of their previous 12 league matches since they netted two in October’s defeat to Real Valladolid.
They have at least proven to be a tough team to break down at Mendizorroza, having conceded more than one goal in just one of their last 12 top-flight home games and keeping clean sheets in three of their previous five matches in front of their own supporters.
The hosts will also take confidence from the fact that they have avoided defeat in each of their previous five home meetings with Valencia, including victories in their last two encounters at Mendizorroza.
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Carlos Corberan has masterminded a remarkable upturn in fortunes since he was named as Ruben Baraja‘s successor in December.
The former West Bromwich Albion boss took over a side that were languishing in 19th place and four points adrift of safety after winning just two of their first 17 league matches of the season.
Corberan has since led Valencia away from danger and put them in contention for European qualification, having overseen nine wins, six defeats, and just three losses in his 18 La Liga matches in charge.
Impressively, Los Che have put together a 10-game unbeaten run since losing at home to Atletico Madrid on February 22, including back-to-back victories in their last two outings against Las Palmas and Getafe.
After they netted free goals to dispatch Las Palmas by a 3-2 scoreline, Valencia produced another free-scoring display to get one over their former boss Jose Bordalas in Saturday’s home clash against Getafe, with Pepelu and Hugo Duro scoring from the spot, either side of a Diego Lopez effort to score three first-half goals in the 3-0 win.
As a result of their fourth win in five home games, Valencia are now sitting two points adrift of the Conference League spot and four points away from seventh-placed Celta Vigo, who occupy the final Europa League qualifying position.
Los Che will hope that their impressive form can help inspire them to beat Alaves for the first time since recording a 3-0 home victory in August 2021, while they have not won a La Liga game at Mendizorroza since October 2017.
Team News
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The hosts remain without the services of defender Abdel Abqar, who has missed the last four matches with a hamstring injury.
Alaves boss Eduardo Coudet is hopeful that Kike Garcia will be ready for Wednesday after being left on the bench at the weekend due to an adductor issue.
Nahuel Tenaglia was only deemed fit enough to feature as a substitute in Sunday’s defeat, but he could return to the side to feature on the right side of defence against Valencia.
Valencia’s Thierry Correia remains sidelined with a long-term knee injury, while Javi Guerra will serve a one-match ban for an accumulation of yellow cards.
Bournemouth loanee Max Aarons was absent at the weekend due to a calf issue, but he has since returned to training and should be on the bench for Wednesday’s fixture.
Pepelu and Andre Almeida are both expected to be available despite being forced off in Saturday’s commanding win over Getafe.
Alaves possible starting lineup:
Sivera; Tenaglia, Garces, Mourino, Sanchez; Blanco, Guevara; Vicente, Guridi, Alena; Kike
Valencia possible starting lineup:
Mamardashvili; Foulquier, Tarrega, Mosquera, Gaya; Rioja, Barrenechea, Pepelu, Lopez; Mir, Duro
We say: Alaves 0-1 Valencia
Valencia will head into the midweek fixture in a confident mood after putting together a 10-game unbeaten run, and we think that they will extend that run by claiming a narrow victory over an Alaves side that have found goals hard to come by in their recent home games.
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