Alaves’ 3-0 home start meets Valencia’s four-match losing run

Alaves bring a perfect three-game home record into today’s meeting with Valencia, who have lost their last four matches. The La Liga fixture starts at 18:00 UTC at Estadio de Mendizorroza, with a nine-point gap separating the teams after five rounds.

What's at stake

Alaves sit fourth on 10 points, while Valencia are 20th with one. A Valencia win would cut the current gap to six points; if Alaves win, the difference would widen to 12. Barcelona lead on 15 points, leaving Alaves five behind and Valencia 14 adrift.

The numbers

Alaves have won all three home games, scoring nine goals and conceding two, with two clean sheets. Valencia have taken no points from two away fixtures, scoring once and conceding four.

The wider attacking and defensive split is just as stark: Alaves have scored 11 and conceded five overall, while Valencia have scored one and allowed 10. Their recent sequences point in opposite directions, with Alaves recording three wins in their last five and Valencia losing four in a row.

One to watch

L. Boyé is Alaves’ clearest scoring reference after four goals in four appearances. M. Díaz offers another direct contribution, with three goals and three assists in five appearances, giving Alaves two players among the listed scorers from these squads with substantial early-season output.

Why it matters

For Alaves, today is an opportunity to protect a top-four position and maintain pressure on Barcelona’s five-point lead. F. Garces is suspended, while A. Manas and M. Rodriguez are unavailable through injury, including an ankle problem for Rodriguez.

Valencia need points to halt a four-match losing run and reduce the distance from safety in the table. Their unavailable list includes S. Canos, J. Copete, M. Diakhaby, D. Foulquier, D. Lopez, U. Sadiq and C. Tarrega, with knee, ankle, muscle, injury and hamstring issues listed among those absences.