Alavés vs Real Valladolid tips

This Friday’s game in Vitoria commences match-day 33 of this Spanish Primera Division season. It features two of the league’s most out-of-form sides with Alaves having taken just one point from their last four matches to fall out of Champions League contention. Valladolid meanwhile have been on the receiving end of some damaging late goals and have taken just two points from their last four to slip into the relegation zone.

To make matters worse, both sides have some significant selection problems heading into this one. Alaves are hoping to finally be able to name Guillermo Maripan in their starting eleven. However Victor Laguardia’s suspension means they again won’t be able to name their first choice central defensive pairing. Ruben Duarte is also banned so they’ve a few key positions to fill here.

Valladolid meanwhile are missing their most consistent performer this season to suspension. Rubén Alcaraz has been a vital part of their battle for safety and has started 29 of their 32 league games until this point. On a more positive note, Toni Villa, another of their better players, is training again and could feature. They will need to pick themselves up though having somehow managed to squander a 2-1 lead against ten men last week with Getafe levelling in the 96th minute.

That could prove a damaging blow and they really need something out of this game having finally slipped into the bottom three last time out. Alaves though are hoping to move back up to 7th by winning the game and get their surprise European push back on track.

Alaves have only lost 2 of their last 16 home league games, which is a measure of the task that Valladolid are faced with here. The visitors haven’t been great travellers since the turn of the year and have lost 5 of their last 6 on the road in La Liga. Their overall form is a concern too with just 2 wins in 17 league outings. With the division’s worst goal-scoring record, there’s an argument for saying that they are the worst team in the league, with Huesca and Rayo Vallecano beneath posing much more of an attacking threat.

With home advantage, backing Alaves to Win could be the way to go here, although it’s unlikely to be a classic.

Alaves are winless in their last four league games, taking just one point from their last available 12 in La Liga.
In that time, Abelardo's side have scored just two goals, with their poor form leading to them falling from the European places and into eighth.
Real Valladolid haven't picked up a win in the Spanish top-flight in their last four attempts, drawing twice and losing twice.

Deportivo Alavés have a good record of 26 undefeated games of their last 31 home encounters in all competitions and are on a poor run of just 1 wins in 6 home matches but we believe that they can breakthrough and win today