Deportivo Alaves vs Malaga
Spanish La Liga
Date: Sunday, 16th October 2016,
Kick-Off at 11:00 UK.
Venue: Estadio Mendizorrotza, Vitoria-Gasteiz.
The newly promoted Deportivo Alaves have shown that they are a hard working side and won’t be intimidated by the higher ranked sides in the league. After 7 matchdays they have managed 2 wins and 3 draws and with 9 points they are 12th in the league table. They made an excellent start to the season by surprising everyone by holding Atletico Madrid to a draw and winning against Barcelona in their first two away games. But they lost their next two away games, the latest against Sevilla by a narrow 2-1 margin. At the same time, they are unbeaten at home in 3 matches with 2 draws and a win.
The pressure keep mounting on Malaga and Juande Ramos as they suffered yet another defeat. This time away from home to a Real Betis who are also struggling to find some consistency in their game. The Albicelestes have managed back-to-back wins in their last two home fixtures, which remains their only wins so far this season. While they lost and drawn 1 each from the previous two home fixtures. But away from, they are on a two match winning run and are on a three match win-less run.
Head To Head
The last 4 meetings have all ended in 1-0 Malaga wins, however, the sides haven’t met in 8 years.
Stats
Malaga have failed to score in 5 of their last 6 away games in La Liga. Alaves are unbeaten in 13 home matches in all competitions.
Team News
Alaves have a few selection problems but they are likely to adopt a more positive formation than the 5-4-1 used at Sevilla last time out. Ibai Gómez could return to provide more support for Deyverson.
Bakary Koné is suspended for Malaga while Keko and long-serving defender Weligton are out injured.
