Deportivo Alavés aim to bounce back from their defeat to Atletico Madrid with a win at Abanca-Balaídos this Sunday. The La Liga matchday nine fixture pits two sides in contrasting form over recent weeks. The Basque side sits seventh in the standings with 11 points from three wins and two draws in their eight games, though their recent form reads one win, one draw and three losses from their last five matches.

The Basque side arrives after a 1-2 loss at Mendizorrotza last time out, a result that leaves them seventh in the table with 11 points. Their striker Luis Boyé, who scored a penalty in that match, is the team's top scorer this season with five goals in seven appearances. Alaves have scored 12 and conceded eight across the opening eight matchdays, giving them a +4 goal difference. Data analysis of the team shows they have averaged 108 goal minutes per game, a pace they will look to impose in Vigo. The loss to Atletico on Saturday 10 October is part of an inconsistent run, which includes a goalless draw with Athletic Club on 19 September and defeats to Valencia and Racing Santander.

Favourable History

Recent history favours the visitors at this ground. In the last meeting in Vigo, on 22 March, Alaves won a thrilling 4-3 encounter. The team has won three of the last five league clashes against the Galicians. "Their previous meeting at Balaídos was a dramatic high-scoring affair that saw Deportivo Alavés edge out Celta Vigo in a 4-3 thriller," analysts note.

Celta, meanwhile, are in a difficult patch with three draws and two defeats in their last five matches across all competitions. Their most recent starting XI, against Juventus in the Europa League, featured a 3-4-3 shape with players like I. Radu, Marcos Alonso and Ferran Jutglà. Left-back Alonso, 35, has made six appearances this season with two yellow cards and one red.

Alaves are likely to stick with the 3-5-2 used against Atletico, with A. Sivera in goal and the attacking duo of T. Martínez and L. Boyé. The team needs points to stay in the upper half of the standings and close the 13-point gap to leaders Barcelona. Following this fixture, the schedule shows Alaves's next opponent will be Real Betis at Mendizorrotza. Kick-off for this Sunday's match is at 16:15 local time on Sunday 18 October.