Preview : Deportivo Alaves vs Barcelona - Live streaming, lineups & Prediction

Deportivo Alaves vs Barcelona

SCHEDULE	TIME
GAME	Alaves vs Barcelona
DATE	23.01.2022
TIME	15:00 PM (UTC)
VENUE	Estadio Mendizorrotza (Vitoria-Gasteiz)
LEAGUE	LaLiga - Round 22

TV Channel Info

More Information

Streaming starts 5 minutes before kick off

Match Preview

◉ Deportivo Alavés return to action on the back of suffering their heaviest La Liga (LL) defeat of the season - a 4-0 loss at Real Betis - and remain in the midst of a nine-game winless league run (D4, L5). Another failure to win in this clash would equal the club’s previous longest winless sequence in a single LL campaign which came back in May 2003, though taking inspiration from the 1-1 reverse H2H scoreline could help stop the rot.

◉ The relegation-threatened hosts had picked up ten points in four LL games prior to this nine-game run, form that needs reprising if they’re to avoid the top-flight drop for the first time since 2005/06. This venue has at least brought the best out of Alavés this season as they’ve taken 71% of their LL points on their own turf, so a return home for this matchup will be welcomed.

◉ Sitting just outside the top five, Barcelona still need to improve after being dumped out of the Copa del Rey courtesy of a 3-2 defeat in midweek. Their swinging fortunes and the relapse of injuries to key players could further hamper their hopes of improving upon a current five-game unbeaten LL run (W2, D3), whilst two of those draws in that run saw Barça drop vital points despite scoring first - the same scenario seen in the reverse H2H.

◉ Away defensive struggles have become somewhat normal for Barcelona this season after conceding in eight of their ten LL away matches. That may change here if history is a precursor, as Xavi’s side have kept six clean sheets across their last seven LL H2H visits to Alavés since their last H2H LL away loss back in December 2001!

◉ Players to watch: Luis Rioja has scored in his last three LL H2Hs, each time as Alavés' only scorer which helped to earn two 1-1 draws. New signing Ferran Torres opened his Barcelona account with the opening match goal in midweek.

◉ Hot stat: Alavés have failed to score before half-time in nine of their last 11 LL home matches.

Deportivo Alaves starting lineup:
Pacheco; Aguirregabiria, Miazga, Lejeune, Lopez; Jason, Moya, Garcia, Rioja; De La Fuente, Joselu

Barcelona starting lineup:
Ter Stegen; Alves, Araujo, Pique, Alba; Pedri, Busquets, F de Jong; Torres, L de Jong, Jutgla

Prediction

Alaves 1-2 Barcelona

This is a huge game for Barcelona, and there is no downplaying the importance of the contest for the Catalan outfit, who desperately need a win to boost their confidence. Alaves could make it a very tricky affair, but we are expecting the away side to emerge victorious due to their superior quality.