Alaves vs Villarreal predictions, H2H and match preview for this Sunday’s game in La Liga. Read on for analysis and predicted line-ups as the hosts bid to extend their impressive start.
DATE/TIME – Sunday 28th October 2018, 18:30 (Spanish Time)
STADIUM – Estadio de Mendizorroza
COMPETITION – La Liga
Alaves celebrated going top of La Liga 9 days ago with victory at Balaidos. They’ve had to look on and watch all the other sides in the top six play at least once and mostly twice since then though and this will be a different kind of test against a Villarreal side that has struggled to get going this term and comes into this Sunday’s match in the bottom five.
That won’t do as far as they are concerned but there have been some signs over the past week that they are starting to pick up a bit. They held Atletico Madrid to a 1-1 draw last weekend before thumping Rapid Vienna 5-0 in the Europa League. Those results may just have kept Javier Calleja in a job but he is still under pressure with Villarreal having recorded just two league wins all season.
The visitors have much more quality on paper than Alaves but the Basque side have been organised and consistent, something you certainly couldn’t say of the Yellow Submarine right now. It’s worth noting that Abelardo’s men have already played Real Madrid and Barcelona and with on paper a decent run of fixtures coming up, there’s every chance they could hang around the top six a while longer.
They will have to be wary of a possibly revitalised Villarreal here though. They played with much more flare and quality on Thursday and goals for strikers Gerard Moreno and Karl Toko Ekambi would have been a big confidence boost. They will have to try and break down a tight Alaves defence here but they should approach the game with more belief now.
Alaves vs Villarreal Predictions
Score Prediction: 1-1 Draw
This should be a pretty even game. Villarreal have a lot more quality than they have shown so far in La Liga and they are capable of being a real threat. Despite their impressive start, Alaves haven’t been scoring a lot of goals at home with just 4 in 4 matches in Vitoria this term and a draw looks perhaps the most likely outcome here.
Alaves vs Villarreal H2H
- Last 6 meetings: 3 Alaves Wins, 2 Villarreal Wins, 1 Draw
- Both meetings last term produced away wins with Villarreal winning 3-0 here.
- Alaves had won 3 of their previous 4 home games against the Yellow Submarine though.
- Villarreal’s win in Vitoria last year was their first away to Alaves in 17 years.
One to Watch – Pablo Fornals
Don pablo fornals pic.twitter.com/FV4IxFpOCv
— Peña El Os Groc (@PenyaElosgroc) January 13, 2018
There haven’t been many Villarreal players to come out of this season with much credit so far but Pablo Fornals is certainly the exception. He has the ability to be the difference-maker in a tight game like this.
Keep tabs on all our La Liga predictions.
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Predicted Line Ups
Alaves Team:
Pacheco – Navarro, Maripan, Laguardia, Duarte – Brasanac, Pina, Wakaso – Jony, Calleri, Gomez (4-3-3)
Villarreal Team:
Asenjo – Costa, Fumes Mori, Gonzalez, Gaspar – Caseres, Trigueros – Pedraza, Fornals, Cazorla – Moreno (4-2-3-1)
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