Alaves vs Barcelona | La Liga Preview

Barcelona travel to the Estadio Mendizorrotza on Tuesday evening to face relegation-threatened Alaves in what could prove to be a routine outing for the Catalan giants. The visitors sit comfortably at the top of La Liga with 91 points from 35 matches, while their hosts find themselves in the drop zone with just 37 points and fighting for their top-flight survival.

Recent form tells the story of two teams heading in completely opposite directions. Barcelona have been virtually unstoppable this season, winning 30 of their 35 league matches with just four defeats. Their attacking prowess has been remarkable, netting 91 goals while conceding only 31. The Blaugrana have been particularly dominant at home, maintaining a perfect record with 18 wins from 18 matches at their temporary venue. Their recent form shows five wins from their last five outings, demonstrating the relentless consistency that has carried them to the title.

Alaves, by contrast, have struggled throughout the campaign and currently occupy 18th position in the relegation zone. With nine wins, ten draws and 16 defeats, they have managed just over a goal per game while shipping 1.5 per match on average. Their home form offers some hope with six wins from 17 matches at Mendizorrotza, but their away record of just three wins from 18 games highlights their struggles on the road this season.

The injury situation presents challenges for both sides, though Barcelona's absences are arguably more significant. Lamine Yamal will miss the match through a thigh injury, robbing the Catalans of one of their most creative outlets. Raphinha is also suspended due to yellow card accumulation, while Andreas Christensen remains sidelined with a knee problem. These absences could force tactical adjustments from the Barcelona coaching staff.

Alaves have their own concerns with F. Garces suspended and doubts over L. Boye and J. Guridi, who are both listed as questionable with injury problems. Given their precarious league position, losing key players at this crucial stage of the season could prove costly.

The head-to-head record makes for grim reading if you support Alaves. Barcelona have dominated this fixture in recent years, winning their last five meetings including a comprehensive 3-0 victory at this very ground in October 2024. The most recent encounter saw Barcelona triumph 3-1 at the Camp Nou in November, continuing their stranglehold over the Basque outfit.

Barcelona typically deploy a 4-2-3-1 formation that has served them well this season, allowing them to control possession while providing multiple attacking outlets. Alaves have experimented with various setups, most commonly using 4-4-2 or 4-1-4-1 formations as they seek the right balance between defensive solidity and attacking threat.

Given Barcelona's overwhelming superiority in terms of quality, form and head-to-head record, coupled with Alaves' desperate need for points to avoid relegation, this should be a comfortable away victory for the league leaders. Expect Barcelona to control proceedings and secure a routine 3-1 win that edges them closer to officially wrapping up the title.