Sports Mole previews Friday's La Liga conflict between Alaves and Sevilla, together with predictions, workforce information and potential lineups.
Sevilla will probably be bidding to make it back-to-back victories in La Liga after they proceed their 2024-25 marketing campaign with a conflict in opposition to Alaves at Mendizorrotza Stadium on Friday evening.
The guests will enter the competition off the again of a much-needed 1-0 win over Getafe, whereas Alaves, who're eighth within the desk, have been overwhelmed 3-2 by Espanyol of their final match in Spain's high flight.
Match preview
© Imago
Alaves loved a wonderful 2023-24 marketing campaign after gaining promotion from the second tier, ending in tenth spot in La Liga, which represented their greatest last place because the 2016-17 season.
Under the steering of Luis Garcia, it has been one other stable begin to this marketing campaign, choosing up seven factors from their 5 matches courtesy of a file of two wins, one draw and two defeats, which has left them in eighth spot within the desk forward of their conflict with Sevilla.
The Blue and Whites began their season with a 2-1 loss at Celta Vigo, however they then held Real Betis at residence earlier than recording back-to-back wins over Real Sociedad and Las Palmas to maneuver onto seven factors.
Alaves will enter this match off the again of a defeat, although, having misplaced 3-2 to Espanyol final weekend, with a treble from Javi Puado securing all three factors for the Catalan workforce.
El Glorioso really beat Sevilla in each La Liga conferences final season, together with a 4-3 victory on residence soil, whereas they're unbeaten of their final 4 top-flight contests with Los Nervionenses, who completed a really disappointing 14th in La Liga in 2023-24.
Last season proved to be Sevilla's worst efficiency in Spain's high flight since being relegated in 1999-2000, and they've now claimed twelfth and 14th of their final two campaigns after ending fourth in three straight seasons between 2019 and 2022.
A troublesome begin to 2024-25 noticed the workforce decide up simply two factors from their first 4 video games, drawing with Las Palmas and Mallorca, along with dropping to Villarreal and Girona.
However, Garcia Pimienta‘s facet managed to safe an enormous three factors at residence to Getafe final day out, with Jesus Navas‘s Twenty third-minute effort proving to be the distinction between the 2 sides.
Sevilla don't have any European soccer this time period, so their foremost focus will probably be on La Liga, and they are going to be trying to put extra factors on the board of their subsequent two video games in opposition to Alaves and Real Valladolid earlier than ending September with a troublesome journey to San Mames to sort out Athletic Bilbao.
As talked about, Los Nervionenses have discovered it troublesome of their current conferences with Alaves, and they haven't managed to beat the Basque workforce away from residence within the league since January 2021.
Alaves La Liga type:
Sevilla La Liga type:
Team News
Alaves will once more be lacking Hugo Novoa resulting from a muscular drawback, however the Basque outfit are in any other case in sturdy form, having not suffered any contemporary points in opposition to Espanyol.
Head coach Garcia is probably going to withstand the temptation to shuffle his pack, however there might be a change in midfield, with Ander Guevara probably being launched.
There may additionally be a spot within the last third of the sector for Toni Martinez, as a robust begin to the marketing campaign has seen the 27-year-old rating twice in three La Liga appearances.
Sevilla, in the meantime, will probably be with out the providers of Juanlu Sanchez by suspension, because the Spaniard picked up a late crimson card after coming off the bench in opposition to Getafe final weekend.
Saul Niguez will even once more miss out resulting from a ban, whereas Albert Sambi Lokonga, Loic Bade and Suso are unavailable for choice resulting from harm issues.
Head coach Garcia Pimienta is predicted to call near the identical facet that took to the sector for the primary whistle in opposition to Getafe, with Dodi Lukebakio for Chidera Ejuke probably the one change.
Alaves potential beginning lineup:
Sivera; Tenaglia, Abqar, Sedlar, M Sanchez; Guridi, Guevara, Blanco; T Martinez, Okay Garcia, Conechny
Sevilla potential beginning lineup:
Nyland; Carmona, Nianzou, Marcao; Navas, Gudelj, Sow, Pedrosa; Peque, Romero, Lukebakio
We say: Alaves 1-1 Sevilla
There have been 12 targets within the final two La Liga matches between these two sides, however we predict this to be a quieter affair. We are discovering it robust to choose a winner on Friday evening and have due to this fact needed to choose a low-scoring draw, which each managers would possible take forward of kickoff.
For information evaluation of the probably outcomes, scorelines and extra for this match please click on right here.