Alaves vs Villarreal prediction: SPAIN: LaLiga betting tips on match 2025-03-07 15:15.
[p]There’s a ship sinking in the Basque country, as Deportivo Alavés have plummeted down into the drop zone with no sign of improvement after going six straight La Liga games without victory (D3, L3). What had started as a promising season is now turning into the stuff of nightmares, as after winning half of their first six league matches, they have gone on to clinch victory in just two of the following 20 (D7, L11)! [/p]
[p]There has been no respite at home, as Alavés are also winless in their last six league contests at the Mendizorroza (D3, L3), losing the last two such games without scoring. Head coach Eduardo Coudet will be desperate to avoid losing a third successive La Liga home match without scoring, as Alavés last suffered such a fate in January 2006![/p]
[p]Severe rain saw Villarreal’s last scheduled league fixture against Espanyol postponed, so they arrive here with plenty of energy in their legs and with eyes set on applying pressure on fourth-placed Athletic Club, who they trail by four points having played a game fewer. Exciting times could be ahead for Marcelino’s men, as a first top four finish since 2015/16 is well within the Yellow Submarine’s reach. [/p]
[p]A six-match unbeaten run has certainly helped on that front (W4, D2), and they now face an opponent they have scored against in the last 14 meetings and avoided defeat against in the last three (W1, D2). Another triumph here would see Villarreal enjoy their longest unbeaten streak against Alavés in their top-flight histories, and the visitors are bound to be confident with only Barcelona (nine) having managed more La Liga away wins than their seven so far this season. [/p]
[p]Players to watch: Oihan Sancet (G13) is the only Spaniard to have scored more than AlavĂ©s’ Kike GarcĂa and Villarreal’s Ayoze PĂ©rez (both 11) in La Liga this term. GarcĂa has six goals from his last seven league matches, while not since Gerard Moreno in 2020/21 has a Villarreal player netted as many as PĂ©rez’s 11 goals in their first 18 games of a top flight campaign. [/p]
[p]Hot stat: Only bottom-of-the-table Real Valladolid (eight) have scored fewer La Liga home goals than Alavés (ten) this season. [/p]
[p][i]Written by Luke Bridle[/i][/p]