Atl. Madrid vs Alaves prediction: SPAIN: LaLiga betting tips on match 2024-11-22 15:15.
[p]A run of four successive victories across all competitions means Atlético Madrid are enjoying their best run of form since May, but that has not stopped speculation mounting over the future of their legendary manager Diego Simeone. The Argentine, who has won eight major trophies since taking the reins in 2011, is comfortably La Liga’s longest-serving boss, but reports in Spain suggest the search for his replacement has already begun.[/p]
[p]The club appear open to a change in boss, which is perhaps down to the fact they currently sit seven points behind league leaders Barcelona, while reaching the next stage of the UEFA Champions League remains uncertain after two defeats in four fixtures (W2). The picture has been more positive in La Liga though, where Atlético have only been beaten once in 13 top-flight fixtures this term (W7, D5) and they remain unbeaten on home soil (W4, D2).[/p]
[p]That doesn’t bode well for Alavés, who are on a run of six successive defeats in away H2Hs! The visitors also make the trip to the Spanish capital having been beaten in all bar one of their last seven league fixtures (W1), meaning they head into this round sitting just three points above the relegation zone, although that’s not an unfamiliar position for a side who have finished 16th or lower in three of their last four seasons in the top-flight.[/p]
[p]One of the main reasons behind their desperate position in the table is a leaky defence which has already conceded 22 goals – the joint-second worst record in the division. Three of those came in a 3-0 hammering to Villarreal before the international break, a result which means Luis GarcĂa’s side are at risk of losing six away La Liga matches in a row across one season for the first time since May 2022.[/p]
[p]Key battle: Atlético striker Julián Alvarez has netted first or last in each of his last nine goalscoring appearances in the league. Visiting defender Manu Sánchez will be out to make sure that’s not the case here, and he’s returning to face the club where he started his career, but he has since lost all five of his H2Hs against his former employers, three of which ended 3-0![/p]
[p]Hot stat: Atlético Madrid have conceded a league-low two second half goals this season.[/p]
[p][i]Written by Matt Jones[/i][/p]