Villarreal vs Alaves Preview: Team News & Prediction | 2024-25 Spanish Primera
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After missing last week due to the deadly flooding in the Valencia region, Villarreal make an emotional return to La Liga to continue their tilt for a top four finish against Deportivo Alaves at El Madrigal this weekend.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Saturday 9th November, 2024 - UK – 3:15pm / US ET – 10:15am / US PT – 7:15am
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – Premier Sports / US – ESPN have the exclusive rights to La Liga games in the USA, so Villarreal vs Alaves may be televised on one of their affiliated channels
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – Premier Sports / US – ESPN+
VILLARREAL PREVIEW: PUSHING FOR EUROPE
Around 12 months ago, former Valencia and Olympique de Marseille boss Marcelino was appointed Villarreal boss and tasked with getting them back into European competition. The Yellow Submarine begin this weekend’s round of fixtures sitting tucked inside the top four and having a game in hand.
Villarreal’s most recent outing saw them hammer lower league Poblense by six goals to one in the first round of the Copa del Rey around ten days ago. They have suffered just two defeats in their 12 matches across all competitions and they have been very entertaining in La Liga with their 11 Liga games consisting of 39 goals.
ALAVES PREVIEW: BATTING BASQUE
For large parts of last season, Luis Garcia Plaza was reportedly on the verge of the sack at Deportivo Alaves but the Basque club steered themselves comfortably clear of the bottom three and the relegation places and even into the top-half by the end of the season following promotion from the second-tier in the 2022/23 campaign.
The visitors come into this one on the back of a vital and much-needed 1-0 defeat of Real Mallorca at Mendizorroza in their most recent outing last weekend thanks to a 76th minute winner from Jon Guridi. That victory ended a five-match losing streak in the league as they sit in the middle-of-the-table.
VILLARREAL TEAM NEWS: NO FOYTH
Former Tottenham Hotspur and Argentina defender Juan Foyth is unavailable for Villarreal with a knee injury alongside club captain Gerard Moreno for this weekend.
As well as that experienced pair being absent for this weekend, Alfonso Pedraza remains a doubt alongside former Arsenal midfielder Denis Suarez.
PREDICTED XI (4-4-2): Conde; Kiko Femenia, Raul Albiol, Costa, Sergi Cardona; Akhomach, Santi Comesana, Dani Parejo, Alex Baena; Pepe, Barry
UNAVAILABLE: Foyth (Injured), Gerard Moreno (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE: Alfonso Pedraza (Injured), Denis Suarez (Injured)
ALAVES TEAM NEWS: COUPLE OF INJURIES
Summer signing Hugo Novoa joined Alaves from RB Leipzig but the defender remains unavailable due to a hernia at the moment so he is sidelined.
They also have a new first-teamer unavailable for this weekend with midfielder Carlos Benavidez joining Hugo Novoa on the sidelines with a hamstring injury.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Antonio Sivera; Tenaglia, Abqar, Pica, Manu Sanchez; Antonio Blanco, Ander Guevara; Carlos Vicente, Jon Guridi, Rebbach; Kike
UNAVAILABLE: Hugo Novoa (Injured), Carlos Benavidez (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
VILLARREAL VS ALAVES PREDICTION
Villarreal, as mentioned, have been very entertaining to watch. They have perhaps been a little fortunate with a few last-gasp wins but they remain a much-improved side with quite a lot of depth in attacking areas, too. Alaves ended their losing streak last weekend so may well themselves have a bit of confidence but this is a really tough test and once again siding with Villarreal looks the way to go for this one.
VILLARREAL VS ALAVES TIP: VILLARREAL TO WIN
