Alaves will have the chance to secure survival when they travel to Estadio Jose Zorrilla for Sunday’s meeting with relegated Real Valladolid.
The visitors head into matchday 37 in 17th position in La Liga, while the hosts are languishing at the foot of the table.
Match preview
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Real Valladolid will be counting down the days to the end of the season, having failed to make an impression in La Liga following their promotion from the second tier last term.
The relegated side have won four, drawn four and lost 28 of their 36 league matches this season, leaving them 16 points adrift of Las Palmas in 19th position.
They have taken just one point from their last 17 La Liga games since they recorded their most recent victory in a home clash against Real Betis in January.
Alvaro Rubio‘s side have lost each of their previous 10 league matches, including a narrow 1-0 loss in Tuesday’s home meeting with Girona following Cristhian Stuani‘s 80th-minute effort.
As a result of their recent run of defeats, the Pucela are now one game away from equalling the longest losing run in La Liga’s history, which currently belongs to the Las Palmas team that suffered 11 consecutive defeats in 1959-60.
While they may be bereft of confidence, Valladolid do have the chance to complete a La Liga double over Alaves for just the second time in their history, after they picked up a 3-2 victory in the reverse fixture in October.
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In contrast to their opponents, Alaves have put themselves in a strong position to stave off relegation, having lost just one of their previous five matches (W2, D2).
Alaves recorded a third consecutive home clean sheet in Wednesday’s 1-0 victory over Valencia, as Joan Jordan scored the decisive spot-kick following the referee’s decision to stay with his on-field decision despite being called to review Giorgi Mamardashvili‘s challenge on Santiago Mourino.
As a result of the win, Alaves have moved four points clear of 18th-placed Leganes with just two games left to play against Valladolid and Osasuna.
El Glorioso will guarantee a third consecutive La Liga campaign if they beat Valladolid on Sunday, while they could even secure safety without picking up maximum points depending on how Leganes fare in their away meeting with relegated Las Palmas.
Eduardo Coudet‘s have struggled for wins on the road, but they have at least avoided defeat in five of their last six away games (D4, L1), although their only loss in that period took place in their most recent away game against Athletic Bilbao.
The visitors can draw inspiration from the fact that they have won four of their previous five top-flight away meetings with Valladolid, including a 2-0 victory on their most recent visit to Estadio Jose Zorrilla in October 2020.
Team News
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Valladolid are unable to call upon the injured quartet of David Torres, Javi Sanchez, Joseph Aidoo and Stanko Juric.
Attacker Chuki will miss the final two games of the season after being forced off with a muscle injury in the first half of Tuesday’s defeat to Girona.
Adam Aznou, Selim Amallah, Tamas Nikitscher, Mamadou Sylla and Sanchez could all be in Rubio’s thinking if he decides to make alterations for Sunday’s contest.
Alaves defender Abdel Abqar remains unavailable for selection, having sat out each of the last five matches with a calf problem.
Moussa Diarra could miss a second successive game after he suffered a broken nose in last Sunday’s defeat to Athletic.
Midfielder Joan Jordan is pushing for a starting spot after coming off the bench to score the winning penalty in Wednesday’s clash with Valencia.
Real Valladolid possible starting lineup:
Hein; Anuar, Parente, Comert, Ozkacar, Aznou; Sanchez, Amallah, Nikitscher, Moro; Latasa
Alaves possible starting lineup:
Sivera; Tenaglia, Garces, Mourino, Sanchez; Blanco; Vicente, Jordan, Guevera, Alena; Kike
We say: Real Valladolid 0-2 Alaves
Alaves may have only won three of their 18 away league games this season, but they will surely feel that a match against struggling Valladolid represents the perfect opportunity to add a fourth away win to their tally.
We ultimately feel the visitors will pile their misery on La Liga’s basement side to secure their top-flight status with one game to spare.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
