Deportivo Alavés host Real Betis in Sunday La Liga clash
Deportivo Alavés and Real Betis go head-to-head on Sunday 25 August at 18:15 (GMT+1) at the Estadio Mendizorrotza. Referee Mateo Busquets Ferrer will take charge of what promises to be a compelling La Liga encounter between two sides both searching for their first win of the season.
Alavés look to exploit home advantage after disappointing start
Deportivo Alavés's start to the season has not gone to plan. The Basque club were among just four sides to suffer defeat on La Liga's opening weekend, going down 2-1 to Celta Vigo despite taking the lead. However, coach Luis García has little reason to panic just yet. Last season the club also began with an away defeat, before a home victory over Sevilla kick-started an excellent campaign — one that culminated in their highest league finish since 2016/17, a place in the top half of La Liga. Now they face a home tie against Real Betis, a side Alavés failed to beat in any regular-season fixture last term. Across three meetings in all competitions the Basques went unbeaten (1W, 2D, 0L), with their sole victory coming in the Copa del Rey — a 1-0 win in January. A return to the Mendizorrotza Stadium should provide a confidence boost: in their final eight home league games last season, Alavés lost just once (4W, 3D, 1L). Luis García is expected to set up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Jon Guridi providing support behind striker Kike García.
Real Betis arrive with European boost but injury concerns
Real Betis had cause for encouragement in Europe this week. In the UEFA Europa Conference League play-off round, the Andalusian club beat Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih 2-0 in Slovakia, having already claimed a 1-1 draw against Girona on La Liga's opening weekend. Manager Manuel Pellegrini is keen to build on that momentum in the league — and the statistics give him plenty of reason for optimism. In his managerial career he has never lost a La Liga fixture against Alavés (5W, 3D, 0L). Betis also finished last season in strong form on the road, going four consecutive away games without defeat (2W, 2D, 0L). There are, however, concerns. Betis were the lowest scorers among La Liga's top eight last season — a statistic that underlines just how urgently Pellegrini needs to strengthen his attacking options, particularly with Champions League qualification in his sights for the first time in twenty years. Playmaker Nabil Fekir will be tasked with providing the creative spark, though he has a poor record against this opponent, having failed to score against Alavés in eight previous appearances. Chimy Ávila, who found the net in the Europa Conference League play-off, is expected to lead the line in Pellegrini's familiar 4-2-3-1 setup. Cédric Bakambu and Isco are both absent — Bakambu with a muscle injury and Isco with an ankle problem.
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Source: Sportmonks
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